Overcoming Vacancies, Private Gas Stations Agree To Buy 'Determination' Fuel From Pertamina

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the private Public Oil Filling Station (SPBU) provider Business Entity (BU) agreed to import fuel oil (BBM) from Pertamina.

"They agreed to collaborate with Pertamina, the condition is that it must be based on base fuel, meaning that it has not mixed. So the products will be mixed in each other, the tanks at each gas station. This has also been approved, this is a solution," Bahlil said at a press conference in Jakarta, Friday, September 19.

Bahlil emphasized that this was done in order to maintain a balance of trade balance while at the same time regulating the fulfillment of fuel needs for the community.

Bahlil said that the stock of fuel in Indonesia is safe for the next 18 to 21 days. From the meeting, it was also agreed that a collaboration between the Private Gas Station Business Entity and Pertamina would import fuel in the form of a base fuel or fuel with pure octane levels without an additive mixture.

Regarding the quality of fuel, it has also been approved to conduct a joint survey before the delivery of fuel. Regarding the purchase price of fuel, the Government requested that it be carried out transparently and no party was harmed. Bahlil also encouraged that in the next seven days, the imported fuel has arrived in Indonesia and is ready to be distributed to the public.

"And when asked when this will start, starting today it has been discussed. After this, it will be followed up with a technical meeting of the stock. And then God willing, no later than 7 days the goods will be able to enter Indonesia," he explained.

The regulation of fuel imports is the middle road to maintain national trade stability by reducing deficit pressures due to oil and gas imports, while ensuring the availability of domestic fuel supply remains safe.

This policy refers to Article 14 paragraph (1) of Presidential Decree Number 61 of 2024 concerning Commodity Balance. The regulation gives the authority to the Minister or Head of Institutions as sector supervisors to determine commodity needs plans.

Bahlil ensured that the government will continue to facilitate business to business (B2B) cooperation between PT Pertamina (Persero) and BU, which owns private gas stations, so that the need for non-subsidized fuel remains guaranteed.

For information, Pertamina Patra Niaga still has a remaining import quota of 34 percent or around 7.52 million kiloliters, which is sufficient to meet additional allocations for private gas stations until December 2025 of 571,748 kiloliters.