Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 07:48 AM

Indonesia prepares regulation to tighten subsidized fuel access

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Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is drafting a regulation to restrict the distribution of subsidized fuels, such as Pertalite and Biosolar, to improve targeting amid concerns over consumption by unintended recipients.

“Yes, it is true that we are formulating the regulation,” Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told the press after a meeting with Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He highlighted the planned policy while reiterating his call for citizens deemed economically privileged to refrain from consuming Pertalite and Biosolar, giving more space to those in need.

“To my fellow citizens who are well-off or own good cars, let us refrain from using subsidized fuels because those products are dedicated to our deserving brothers and sisters,” Bahlil said.

He also alluded to reports of long queues for fuel in Makassar, South Sulawesi, stressing that the country is not facing a shortage, with fuel supplies staying at the national minimum threshold, sufficient for 18 to 20 days.

With that in mind, Bahlil suspected that the Makassar queues might have been caused by misuse of subsidized fuels.

“Long queues can be caused by many factors. Among them is that there are people who line up at filling stations with ulterior motives,” he said.

The minister earlier noted a plan to restrict Pertalite sales for residents in the top two strata of the National Single Socioeconomic Data (DTSEN), saying the move was pending data validation to ensure accuracy.

Responding to the plan, Pertamina Patra Niaga Corporate Secretary Roberth Dumatubun said the company stands ready to support restricted access to Pertalite and Biosolar for citizens in the top two strata.

Pertamina awaits the government's policy and will follow official instructions as a state-run energy firm, he stated.

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