Motorists who are customers of private fuel oil (BBM) are forced to harbor disappointment. Since the end of August, public filling stations (SPBU) labeled Shell, Vivo, ExxonMobil, and BP-AKR have been closed because there is no stock available.
The employees were seen standing guard at the gas station. Some employees even sell food to generate income. Occasionally they have to tell drivers who have already entered the gas station that their gasoline stock is empty.
The new import policy is suspected to have triggered fuel shortages at gas stations owned by private companies in recent weeks. Private gas stations can no longer obtain import permits even if they run out of stock.
To keep the business world running smoothly, all parties should find common ground. Thus, consumers do not become hesitant and can still obtain quality fuel.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the regulation of fuel imports was taken to maintain the balance of the trade balance while ensuring the availability of domestic supplies. This policy is also intended to reduce the pressure on the oil and gas deficit. The legal basis is Article 14 paragraph (1) of Presidential Regulation Number 61 of 2024 concerning Commodity Balance.
After chairing a meeting with Pertamina and private gas station business entities, Bahlil explained that four agreements were reached. Namely, first, imports are carried out in the form of base fuel, which is compounded at the gas station tank. Second, there is a joint survey before delivery. Third, a transparent pricing mechanism with an open book model . Fourth, acceleration of supply fulfillment.
"God willing, at the latest seven days the goods can enter Indonesia," Bahlil said in a press release, Friday (19/9/2025).
Bahlil also mentioned that Pertamina Patra Niaga has a remaining import quota of 34% or around 7.52 million kiloliters. He considers this quota sufficient for additional allocation to private gas stations until December 2025 amounting to 571,748 kiloliters. He called this amount as a support for adequate supply until the end of the year.
In line with Bahlil's statement, President Prabowo Subianto summoned Pertamina CEO Simon Aloysius Mantiri to confirm the allocation of fuel needs until the end of 2025.
After the meeting, Simon emphasized that the mechanism with the private sector is carried out openly and is not intended to increase prices to consumers. "We hope the price to consumers will not change," he said after the meeting at the Merdeka Palace, as published by the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (19/09/2025).
According to Simon, Pertamina and private business entities are also preparing additional import measures to cover supply needs. However, the import volume is still waiting for the needs report from each business entity. He ensures that national supply will be maintained until the end of this year.
In addition to ensuring the speed of supply, Simon ensures that the quality of fuel remains up to standard. Pertamina, he said, is committed to maintaining consistent fuel quality as a form of responsibility to the community. "The standard is according to the specifications of the Director General of Oil and Gas, after that it will be mixed according to the recipe of each," he said.
In response, BP-AKR has yet to provide an official statement. BP-AKR's spokesperson, Dewi Indrasari, said that her party is still conducting internal discussions. "Regarding price, volume, specifications, and everything, we are still discussing. So we can't give any statement yet," said Dewi when contacted on Sunday (21/09/2025).
Importance of quality assurance
Executive Director of the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Muhammad Faisal believes that Pertamina's one-door fuel import policy can still be implemented - provided there is an improvement in the performance of the business entity. He emphasized the importance of guaranteeing the quality of fuel distributed, both for Pertamina itself and for private gas stations.
In addition to quality, Faisal also highlighted the aspect of quantity and smooth distribution. According to him, uneven supply or choked distribution has the potential to cause scarcity and reduce public confidence. This has happened when there were complaints about the quality of fuel that was considered not in accordance with the price paid by consumers.
Faisal added that the government also needs to encourage an increase in the fuel mix with higher octane values. This would not only better suit the needs of modern vehicles, but also have a positive impact on the environment.
"Better quality fuel will reduce pollution and be more environmentally friendly," Faisal said when contacted on Sunday (21/09/2025).
Meanwhile, the Commission for the Elimination of Leaded Gasoline (KPBB) criticized Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia's decision to stop fuel imports by private filling stations. According to KPBB, the policy is detrimental to consumers because it strengthens Pertamina's dominance as the sole importer. This policy is also said to have the potential to lead to cartel practices.
KPBB believes that the regulation of a single import route only through Pertamina will eliminate healthy competition. As a result, people lose the opportunity to get fuel with better quality and more competitive prices. "This provision is misguided because it benefits the oil and gas mafia," said KPBB Executive Director Ahmad Safrudin in a written statement, Friday (19/9/2025).
According to Ahmad, the quality of fuel marketed by Pertamina is currently below the standard of vehicle technology. Of the 16 gasoline parameters, the research octane number (RON) has only reached 90, whereas the minimum standard is 91. The sulfur content is also said to be too high, at 200 ppm, exceeding the maximum limit of 50 ppm.
A similar situation occurs in diesel fuel, with a cetane number of only 48 from the minimum standard of 51. The sulfur content of diesel fuel is even said to reach more than 1,400 ppm, far from the 50 ppm limit. According to Ahmad, this condition will exacerbate air pollution and harm consumers who use new technology vehicles.
KPBB alluded to a regulation that has been in effect since 2017, namely the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation (PermenLHK) No P20/2017 concerning Thresholds for Exhaust Gas Emissions of Motor Vehicles. The regulation requires the use of Euro4 standard vehicles since 2018, with the target of increasing to Euro6 in 2024 and 2025. However, Ahmad said there was no follow-up from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to adjust fuel specifications.
As a result, the national automotive industry is considered stagnant due to the unavailability of fuel that meets the needs of Euro4 technology. The presence of private gas stations that once offered higher-standard fuels is said by Ahmad to be an "oasis" for modern vehicle users. However, this opportunity was closed after the one-door fuel import policy was implemented only through Pertamina.
The presence of private gas stations that once offered higher-standard fuel is said by Ahmad to be an "oasis" for modern vehicle users.
In addition to technical aspects, KPBB also links this policy to President Prabowo Subianto's economic growth target of 8%. According to Ahmad, policies that limit the space for the oil and gas industry are contrary to the direction of economic development. He considers this step to be a setback in national energy governance.
KPBB reminded that the realization of fuel imports still reached around 70% of the total national demand, or 73 million kiloliters by 2024. Pertamina's dominance as the sole supplier is feared to weaken the market mechanism and close the opportunity for better quality products. "This will damage healthy competition and burden consumers," Ahmad said.
As a recommendation, KPBB urged the government to revoke the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources' policy that limits fuel imports by the private sector. Ahmad also asked for a revision of fuel specifications, a shift in imports to higher quality products, and a restructuring of the cost of goods sold (HPP) to make prices more affordable.
KPBB even encouraged the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) to examine the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Director General of Oil and Gas regarding alleged cartel practices.
