Pertalite Becoming Scarce at Petrol Stations: Implications for Fuel Consumption

Discussions on tightening the distribution of subsidised fuel have resurfaced as Pertalite begins to disappear from certain petrol stations in urban areas.

Amid this situation, the policy of eliminating barcodes for purchasing subsidised fuel for vehicles deemed unsuitable is expected to change consumer habits in selecting fuel.

For several years, the use of barcodes or digital systems has served as a monitoring tool for the distribution of subsidised fuel to ensure it reaches the right targets.

Professor at ITB, Tri Yuswidjajanto, believes that the increasingly strict fuel distribution oversight policy will ultimately “force” society to use fuel according to vehicle manufacturer recommendations.

According to him, this step is actually in line with the government’s efforts to reduce air pollution and improve vehicle emission quality in Indonesia.

“Society should use fuel according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation so that exhaust emissions comply with type test results and applicable regulations,” Tri told Kompas.com on Thursday (7/5/2026).

He explained that Pertalite is fundamentally not designed for the majority of modern vehicles that now follow Euro-4 emission standards for cars and Euro-3 for new motorcycles.

Therefore, using fuel with a higher octane number, such as Pertamax, is considered more appropriate to maintain optimal combustion processes while reducing exhaust emissions.

So far, the price difference between subsidised and non-subsidised fuel has led many consumers to still choose Pertalite even though their vehicle’s specifications actually require fuel with a higher octane value.

This condition is seen as creating consumption habits that are difficult to change because economic factors are the main consideration for society.

However, when access to subsidised fuel begins to be restricted through barcodes, digital purchasing, and reduced distribution at certain petrol stations, society’s consumption patterns are expected to change gradually.

Not only due to compulsion, but also because of the narrowing choices for vehicles that no longer meet the criteria for using subsidised fuel.

On the other hand, this tightening of distribution has the potential to bring new consequences for daily vehicle users.

For owners of motorcycles and cars with high mobility, switching from Pertalite to Pertamax will certainly increase monthly operational costs.