Jakarta – Fuel shortages at several private gas stations, including BP, Shell, and VIVO, have once again become a public concern. The government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), emphasized that the best solution is direct collaboration with PT Pertamina (Persero) to ensure supply availability.
ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized that the government has provided greater import space for businesses. “The quota is 110% compared to last year. I repeat, for example, company A received 1 million kiloliters in 2024. In 2025, they received 1 million plus 10%. That means 1 million plus 100,000. What does that mean? Everyone gets it,” he said.
However, Bahlil cautioned that if private stocks run out, the solution remains through collaboration with Pertamina. “If you want more, this concerns the livelihoods of many people, these industrial sectors. If you want more, please collaborate with Pertamina. Why Pertamina? Pertamina represents the state,” he said.
Bahlil emphasized that the government does not want vital sectors like energy to be completely controlled by market mechanisms.
“We don’t want these production sectors, which control the livelihoods of many people, to be completely left to market theory. What would happen then?” he added.
The Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Laode Sulaeman, revealed that so far there has been no official request from private gas stations to Pertamina.
“Not yet, because the private gas stations are conducting an internal analysis. So, they couldn’t proceed at yesterday’s meeting. They are still conducting an internal analysis at each individual level,” he said.
Laode emphasized that there are no additional costs in the fuel purchasing scheme through Pertamina.
“No, that has been discussed with the Minister; there are no additional costs of any kind,” he added.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dadan Kusdiana, added that, in accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 191 of 2014, fuel imports will continue to be carried out through Pertamina.
“Our position is clear. The Director General of Oil and Gas has already stated that imports will be carried out through Pertamina,” he emphasized.
With this collaboration, it is hoped that the public will no longer face shortages at private gas stations, while maintaining national energy security.*
