Indonesian govt moves to speed fuel deliveries outside Java, Bali

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is working to streamline fuel distribution in regions outside Java and Bali, particularly Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, after supplies stabilized in Bali.

"Our immediate priority is to expedite the distribution," Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said in a statement confirmed by ANTARA on Monday.

Bahlil, who is also energy and mineral resources minister, said the recent Bali fuel supply disruption was a critical operational lesson.

Shipping delays from Java had cut Bali's fuel buffer stocks to a critically low three to four days.

Additional tankers have since lifted Bali's reserves to a safe 11 to 12 days, easing queues at local gas stations.

Bahlil attributed the problem to technical bottlenecks in state-owned PT Pertamina's logistics management but stressed shared accountability.

"Regardless of the technical issues, it remains our collective responsibility to resolve them," he said.

Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri told a high-level coordination meeting that supply chains are also constrained in parts of Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Sumatra.

Fuel there is traditionally moved by river, but bad weather has caused sedimentation and lower water levels in major rivers, preventing large barges and tankers from passing.

Deliveries have been rerouted by land, which takes considerably longer. Bahlil said the government is taking comprehensive steps to ease the bottlenecks.

"We will do our utmost to ensure that such disruptions do not happen again," Bahlil added.

To improve inter-regional distribution, he instructed Pertamina to expand its transport fleet, mirroring the move that normalized Bali supplies.

The government said national fuel reserves remain at secure levels and that, with improved distribution channels, it is focused on ensuring timely supplies across all provinces.

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Translator: Putu Savitri, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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