Yuliot Tanjung

Jakarta, October 12, 2025 – Indonesia is centralizing fuel imports through state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina, including supplies destined for private gas stations, to ensure sufficient stock and streamline teh process. The move comes as the government assesses total fuel needs, currently estimated at 1.4 million kiloliters based on preliminary consolidation data.

Yuliot, an official at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, explained the government is requesting detailed import needs data from each business entity. “So from this how manny portions of Pertamina, how many portions of business entities, this is the data we ask for a detail. Because the government in giving the approval until the end of the year is about how much needs,” Yuliot said Friday. The “one door” import system aims to prevent shortages during implementation.

The initiative is partially linked to a trade agreement with the United States, perhaps involving US companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron for procurement, though the source of supply remains flexible. “But this is recorded as our trade balance with America,” Yuliot added.

The government initially opened fuel imports through Pertamina to address fuel shortages at private stations, notably when Pertamina’s refinery output is insufficient. However, Director General of oil and Gas Laode Sulaeman noted that private sector entities have yet to agree to purchase fuel from Pertamina due to differing specifications regarding fuel additives.

“Each business entity has its own specifications of its additives. If the BBM specifications are the same,” Laode explained Wednesday. The Ministry is currently collecting data from private gas stations to relay to Pertamina, enabling the company to determine the volume of additional imports required.