Minister of Transportation: Avtur and Transportation Fuel for Eid are Safe Even Though the Middle East is Turbulent

JAKARTA - The Minister of Transportation (Menhub), Dudy Purwagandhi, ensures that the supply of jet fuel and fuel oil (BBM) for transportation operations during the Lebaran 1447 Hijriah transportation period remains safe even though there is geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East.

Dudy stated that the national aviation fuel and fuel reserves were still sufficient until the 1447 Hijri Eid period, so that air, land, and sea transportation services could continue to run normally during the homecoming period.

"Alhamdulillah, until Lebaran is still (safe), because our aviation fuel or our fuel reserves are still sufficient," said the Minister of Transportation, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, March 7.

He conveyed this when responding to questions from the media regarding the statement of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia regarding the national fuel stock which was said to be able to last for about 21 days.

The Minister of Transportation explained that the figure of 21 days is the storage capacity or storage that is currently available, so if the capacity is larger, the government can actually accommodate more fuel reserves.

However, he emphasized that the figure does not mean that the reserves will run out after 21 days, because the fuel stock will continue to be replenished periodically to maintain the availability of supplies.

"So, 21 days is not meant to be 21 days, but we have to maintain 21 days is the minimum limit that we must provide. So if it is reduced, then Pertamina, ESDM will add," explained Dudy.

According to him, the government maintains that reserves remain at the minimum limit of 21 days through the refill mechanism when stocks are reduced, so that the availability of national fuel remains stable.

He added that if there was a global supply disruption, the government could still obtain oil sources from other exporting countries, so that the national fuel needs were still met.

"How do you add from where? It's true that Hormuz is 20 percent of the total global, but that means we still have other places that can get the fuel," he said.

According to him, the government continues to monitor the energy supply condition to ensure the distribution of fuel for transportation operations is not disrupted even though there is global dynamics that affect the energy supply chain.

The Minister of Transportation emphasized that cross-ministry and agency coordination continued to be carried out to ensure that the management of energy reserves runs effectively in supporting the smooth transportation during the Lebaran period.

With this step, the government is optimistic that transportation services during Lebaran transportation will continue to run smoothly, because the supply of aviation fuel and fuel for national transportation operations is still in a safe condition.

Previously, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia clarified information circulating regarding the ability of national fuel oil (BBM) stocks which was said to be only enough for 20 days, as a result of the Middle East war.

Bahlil, ahead of a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Wednesday (4/3) stated that this capacity was not an emergency condition, but reflected the storage capacity that Indonesia has had so far.

"Indeed, since long ago, since long ago, our storage capacity, our fuel capacity in the Republic of Indonesia is no more than 21 to 25 days," he said.

According to Bahlil, the national standard is at least 20-21 days, while the maximum is around 25 days. In a meeting with the National Energy Council (DEN), the average national fuel stock resilience was recorded at the level of 22-23 days.

He explained that the limitation of stock was not due to the government's inability to provide supplies, but because the storage tank capacity was not sufficient to accommodate larger reserves.

"If we want to add, where do we keep it? The storage is not enough," he said.

Therefore, Bahlil asked that news related to fuel stocks not cause misunderstanding among the public.