Pertamina Issues Written Warnings to 25 Petrol Stations in West Sumatra Suspected of Misappropriation

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumatera Bagian Utara (Sumbagut) has sent written warnings or sanctions to 20 to 25 public fuel filling stations (SPBU) suspected of misappropriating the distribution of subsidised fuel oil (BBM).

Sales Area Manager (SAM) Retail Sumbar Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut Fakhri Rizal Hasibuan stated in Padang on Wednesday that throughout 2026, Pertamina Sumbagut has dispatched coaching letters to 23 to 25 SPBU spread across West Sumatra.

Generally, the dozens of petrol stations receiving sanctions or reprimands were penalised for distributing fuel not in accordance with its intended purpose. For example, operators continued to serve the same vehicle for repeated refuelling.

"So, the transaction indicated misuse," he said.

Fakhri emphasised that the coaching letters represent the state-owned oil company’s firm stance against managers or owners of SPBU suspected of violating subsidised fuel distribution rules.

In addition to reprimanding or writing to the managers, Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut also requests SPBU owners to conduct direct coaching of workers, especially operators, to prevent distribution fraud.

On the occasion, he said Pertamina continues to strive to optimise digitalisation in the form of quick response codes or barcodes so that subsidised fuel distribution is precisely targeted. The implementation of digitalisation, which has been underway for several years, is expected to become a concrete long-term solution.

Furthermore, to optimise supervision, every closed circuit television camera installed at SPBU is now integrated online with Pertamina.

"So periodically we also analyse transactions indicated as anomalous to be checked directly via CCTV. So the system is reverse proof," he said.