Uproar Over Pertalite Fuel Purchase Limit of 50 Litres Per Day: ESDM's Response

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has spoken out on the issue of restricting purchases of subsidised fuel oil (BBM). In the circulating narrative, private vehicles are limited in their fuel purchases, particularly the Pertalite type, to a maximum of 50 litres per day.

Inspector General of the Ministry of ESDM, Yudhiawan Wibisono, revealed that the government has not yet decided on a scheme for regulating public fuel purchases to date.

“So until today, we ask for patience; there is no official decision from the government. So these news items are still unclear. So as I see it, until there is no decision from the government, it means it’s not in effect yet, including and so on,” he said during a press conference at the BPH Migas office in Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

Based on the circulating document, it states that the regulation is issued by the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BPH Migas) in the form of Decision of the Head of BPH Migas No. 024/KOM/BPH.DBBM/2026 concerning the Control of Distribution of Certain Types of Fuel Oil, namely Subsidised Diesel Oil (Gasoil) and Special Assignment Fuel Oil Type Petrol (Gasoline) RON 90 by Assigned Business Entities for Motorised Vehicle Transportation for Passenger and/or Goods Transport.

This means the regulation governs the distribution of subsidised fuel in the form of Subsidised Diesel and Pertalite (RON 90), for both private vehicles and goods, whether cars or six-wheeled vehicles.

Specifically for subsidised diesel, the details are as follows:

• Private car vehicles are limited to a maximum fuel purchase of 50 litres per day.

• Public transport cars are limited to a maximum purchase of 80 litres per day.

• Six-wheeled public transport vehicles are limited to a maximum purchase of 200 litres per day.

• Public service transport vehicles are limited to a maximum purchase of 50 litres per day.

Specifically for Pertalite, the details are as follows:

• Private car vehicles are limited to a maximum purchase of 50 litres per day.

• Public service car vehicles are limited to a maximum purchase of 50 litres per day.

In the circulating regulation, BPH Migas Head Wahyudi Anas is recorded as having established the policy dated 30 March 2026.

“This decision shall take effect on 1 April 2026,” the circulating policy states, quoted on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

In response to the spread of this regulation, BPH Migas Head Wahyudi Anas said that so far there has been no official decision from the government.

His side is only following directives from the central government regarding the regulation of domestic subsidised fuel.

“So like this, on the website or officially from us, there is none. Secondly, certainly if it comes out from the government, then we follow. It’s impossible for us to regulate before the government issues a statement on how the public mechanism for purchasing fuel. The point is there. So in this programme, all the calls are automatically from the government, and that becomes the government’s target, and we at BPH Migas do not expect to issue it earlier and so on,” he said during a press conference at the BPH Migas office in Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

“If there is no official letter, if it comes out, BPH will issue it officially, it will go everywhere, and that document will certainly be conveyed to related ministries and institutions; if it hasn’t reached there yet, then it’s not in condition, maybe that’s it,” he emphasised.