Pertamina's response to the queuing at Medan petrol stations
WITA said that to date almost all petrol stations in her city were crowded with residents queuing for fuel (BBM). Not only in her city, residents of Binjai also reported that public fuel filling stations (SPBU) along Jalan Medan-Binjai were crowded with fuel buyers. ‘That Thursday night, the SPBU at Tanahtinggi Binjai had motorcycle queues as long as a concert. They stretched onto the road, causing traffic jams. In the morning, along Jalan Medan-Binjai, it was the same,’ Wita said on Sunday, 8 March 2026.
The longer queues at SPBU occurred after the statement by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia about Indonesia’s fuel stock lasting only 20 days because of the closure of the Hormuz Strait, Iran, on 2 March 2026. Then, circulating messages urged people to fill their tanks fully and use jerrycans. As a result, almost all SPBU were filled with queues of vehicles that eventually crowded the roads and caused congestion.
Two days later, Bahlil clarified his statement. He affirmed that the national fuel reserves were still sufficient; the 20-day reserve was not an emergency. ‘That is our capability; the national standard is at least 20 to 21 days,’ he said at the Presidential Palace.
PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumatra Northern (Sumbagut) subsequently said that the chain messages on messaging apps and social media were not true. Fuel distribution was normal and stocks for Aceh and the Sibolga area were in a safe condition and continued to be distributed according to public needs.
‘We urge the public to be prudent in receiving and sharing information. Do not trust chain messages from unclear sources that do not reflect facts,’ said Fahrougi Andriani Sumampouw, Area Manager Communication, Relations and CSR Regional Sumbagut, in a written statement on Thursday, 5 March 2026. However, by then, the public had already panicked and flocked to SPBU.
Fearing unrest spreading to unwanted outcomes, the Assistant for Economy and Development of the Medan City Regional Secretariat, Citra Effendi Capah, visited the Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut office to verify the BBM stock in Medan.
Sales Area Manager (SAM) Retail Medan Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut Tito Rivanto Marsono and Sales Branch Manager Ferry Fernando, who received Citra and her delegation, said that BBM availability for all products in Medan was in a safe condition and would remain safe.
‘We expect consumers not to panic and to buy as usual. Supply through Lebaran and after Lebaran is also guaranteed with no obstacles. There are no issues with ships, etc. Tanker trucks will be added, as will drivers,’ Tito said.
After hearing Tito’s explanation, Citra urged the public not to be influenced by circulating issues of fuel scarcity. The public was asked to remain calm and continue refuelling as usual to return SPBU to normal conditions. ‘We urge the public not to panic buy. Refill as usual to keep SPBU normal and prevent long queues,’ said Citra.
The Medan City Government also reminded informal BBM traders not to exploit the situation by raising prices or engaging in practices detrimental to the public. Oversight will be conducted by the relevant agencies together with law enforcement.
Meanwhile, North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution urged regional leaders to educate the public not to panic buy. Bobby assured that BBM stocks in North Sumatra remained safe.
‘Please continue to educate the public, because from my observations after visiting several regencies and cities, panic buying is only in the cities,’ Bobby said after breaking fast with the Gerindra Sumut DPD family in Medan.
He likened the national BBM stock to a fuel tank that will be refilled before it runs dry. ‘So there is no need to panic; we have never run out of BBM, even though our storage capacity is only 25 days because it is refilled before depletion,’ he said.