Public panic-buying sparked by Bahlil's claim that Indonesia's BBM stock would last only 20 days; DPR seeks clarification

Republika.co.id, Jakarta – Member of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Rivqy Abdul Halim, has urged PT Pertamina (Persero) to promptly provide clarification to the public regarding the condition of the national fuel reserves (BBM). The request follows the emergence of panic in several regions after Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that Indonesia’s BBM reserves are only sufficient for around 20 days.

The statement was made by Bahlil amid escalating global geopolitical tensions, including the impact of the Iran–Israel conflict, which also involves the United States, and disruptions to global energy distribution in the Hormuz Strait, one of the world’s main oil shipping routes. He said the statement had sparked public anxiety.

“The impact of this statement is that in some areas there is excessive panic among the public. Many gas stations are experiencing long queues and people are scrambling for BBM,” Rivqy said on Friday (6 March 2026).

Rivqy explained that Indonesia’s BBM reserve system essentially depends on the government’s and Pertamina’s ability to provide funds and storage facilities. “To my understanding, our reserve capacity indeed depends on the funding and storage facilities available. So the statement cannot be interpreted simply as if our BBM stock would run out within a certain period,” he clarified.

Therefore, he stressed the importance of Pertamina as the main operator of national energy distribution to provide a more comprehensive explanation to the public about the BBM availability scheme in Indonesia. Rivqy emphasised that clear public communication is necessary to prevent panic that could trigger social impacts among the public.

“I hope Pertamina will also help explain to the public so that this panic does not escalate and does not provoke horizontal conflict that would harm the wider public,” he concluded.