Vehicles with Plates from Outside East Nusa Tenggara Prohibited from Purchasing Subsidised Fuel in Labuan Bajo
Motor vehicles with licence plates from outside Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) are prohibited from purchasing subsidised fuel at fuel service stations in Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat. The same policy applies to vehicles that have not or do not pay motor vehicle tax (PKB). Such vehicles are only permitted to purchase non-subsidised fuel.
The ban is regulated under East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Regulation (Pergub) Number 13 of 2025 on Optimisation of Motor Vehicle Tax, Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax, and Heavy Equipment Tax. The Provincial Revenue Service’s Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD Dispenda) and the Manggarai Barat Tax Office (Bapenda) have conducted socialisation of the regulation’s implementation to vehicle owners at several fuel service stations in Labuan Bajo.
UPTD Dispenda NTT Head Anjas Pranda explained that the socialisation focused on provisions regarding subsidised fuel consumption. He stated that the calculation of subsidised fuel quotas is based on the number of vehicles operating in the NTT region. However, this arrangement becomes skewed when many vehicles from outside NTT also consume subsidised fuel in the area.
“They enjoy subsidies in the NTT region, but their taxes are remitted to other regions,” Anjas said in a written statement on Wednesday (25 February 2026).
According to him, the policy aims to maintain the availability of subsidised fuel stocks to prevent shortages that could trigger long queues at fuel service stations.
“Through the implementation of this policy, the Regional Government seeks to maintain subsidised fuel stock availability in order to anticipate shortages that could result in prolonged queues at service stations,” he continued.
In addition to out-of-region vehicles, the regulation also targets vehicles that have not or do not pay taxes.
“Those who have not and/or have not yet paid taxes should fill up with non-subsidised fuel,” Anjas stressed.
Manggarai Barat Bapenda Head of Planning and Regional Revenue Development Marselino Dedipaty stated that his office has an interest in implementing the regulation as it relates to increasing Local Own-Source Revenue (PAD).
He explained that motor vehicle tax and motor vehicle transfer tax (BBNKB) are among the sources of PAD received through a revenue-sharing scheme from the Provincial Government.
“This activity is part of a series of efforts by Manggarai Barat Bapenda to optimise regional revenue from the tax and local retribution sectors,” said Marselino.
“Optimising revenue from various sources of income is a prerequisite for fiscal independence of Regional Government, as instructed by the Central Government at present,” he concluded.