Call National Fuel Stock Safe, Bahlil: Kayak Toren Air at Home

JAKARTA - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that the national fuel supply is in a safe condition because production and distribution continue to run to meet community needs according to the operational stock standards that have been set by the government.

Bahlil explained that the capacity of the storage tank in the country was limited.

"With the limitations of our existing storage tank (BBM) capacity, our capacity is no more than 25 days. Meanwhile, the available stock has a capacity of up to 23 days. But that doesn't mean that 23 days are over. That's not what it means. That's the capacity," said Bahlil in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Podcast, quoted Thursday, March 12.

He explained that the stock of fuel oil equivalent to 23 days does not mean that the inventory will run out in 23 days.

The Golkar Party Chairman said that the figure only illustrates the capacity of the stock stored in the storage tank at a time.

To clarify how the supply works, Bahlil gave a simple analogy, the fuel stock is like a water tower that will be automatically refilled when the volume decreases.

"If the fuel stock for 3 days is out, then the production at our refinery will also be out to fill the existing stock. Enter again, fill again, like a water tower in our house. Yes, like that. Water tower in the house, used for bathing, then the machine is immediately turned on again. So don't think that 21 days our oil is gone. That's not what it means," he explained.

According to Bahlil, the stock of fuel is dynamic because every day there is fuel distributed to meet the needs of the community, while at the same time new supplies are also continuing to enter, both from domestic refinery production and from imports.

Bahlil added that the supply of fuel does not only depend on one source. In addition to being supplied from domestic refinery production, fuel availability is also strengthened through imports from various countries, not only relying on supplies from the Middle East region.

The supply is also taken from neighboring countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, so the situation is safe and not directly related to the conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.

As a long-term step in accordance with the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Bahlil ensures that the government will increase storage capacity. The plan includes the construction of new storage infrastructure that is capable of storing fuel stocks for at least three months, in accordance with national standards.

He also appealed to the public not to worry about the availability of fuel oil and not to buy fuel oil in excess.

"Don't panic buying. God willing, our fuel, our LPG (safe), the state will be present," said Bahlil.