New Subsidised Fuel Rules: Private Vehicles Limited to 50 Litres, Public Transport Allowed More

The government has established new regulations regarding the purchase of subsidised fuel oil (BBM), both Pertalite (RON 90) and subsidised diesel (Biosolar). Purchases are now limited per type of vehicle. Under the latest policy, fuel purchases for private vehicles are capped at a maximum of 50 litres per day per vehicle, while public transport is permitted to buy more than 50 litres per day. This policy was set by the government in response to disruptions in the global crude oil distribution and supply. “The 50 litres mentioned is for those with private cars. It does not apply to transport trucks or buses because they need more,” said the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia during an online press conference from Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday (31/3/2026). He explained that the restrictions are based on the tank capacity of private vehicles, which is generally not as large as that of goods or passenger transport vehicles, such as trucks and buses. Additionally, this policy serves as the government’s effort to encourage the public to purchase fuel in a reasonable and prudent manner. “Reasonable and prudent means filling up a car with 50 litres for one day, which already fills the tank for a day. So we will encourage that. For things that are not too essential, we ask that they also be done prudently,” he said. The regulation was signed by the Head of BPH Migas Wahyudi Anas on 30 March 2026, detailing the restrictions on subsidised Pertalite and Biosolar purchases, effective from 1 April 2026. For subsidised diesel, the details are as follows: - Four-wheeled private vehicles: maximum 50 litres per day - Four-wheeled public transport vehicles: maximum 80 litres per day - Six-wheeled public transport vehicles: maximum 200 litres per day - Public service vehicles (ambulance, hearse, fire truck, and garbage truck): maximum 50 litres per day Meanwhile, for Pertalite (RON 90), as follows: - Four-wheeled private vehicles: maximum 50 litres per day - Public service vehicles (ambulance, hearse, fire truck, and garbage truck): maximum 50 litres per day Under the new rules, BPH Migas also requires assigned business entities to record the registration numbers of motor vehicles each time they distribute Biosolar and Pertalite. Assigned business entities are also obliged to submit reports on the progress of controlling the distribution of Biosolar and Pertalite every three months or as needed.