Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia on Wednesday urged private fuel retailers—including Shell, BP, and Vivo—to work with state-owned energy company Pertamina to secure fuel supplies and avoid shortages.
"Please work together with Pertamina," Bahlil told reporters in Jakarta, emphasizing that fuel availability is a matter of public interest.
He noted that the government recently granted private fuel stations an additional 10 percent quota for fuel imports, but those seeking higher allocations must coordinate with Pertamina.
“If they want more, this involves the livelihoods of many people. These are industries vital to the public, so if they need more, they should collaborate with Pertamina,” he said.
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The minister stressed that fuel distribution cannot be left entirely to market mechanisms.
“We do not want sectors controlling the public’s basic needs to be dictated solely by market forces,” he added.
Earlier, Bahlil had urged private stations facing supply shortfalls to cooperate with Pertamina to ensure fuel availability and prevent disruptions.
“This concerns people’s livelihoods, so industries tied to basic needs must remain under state oversight to ensure stability,” he said after a meeting at the presidential palace on Monday.
He added that he had chaired a coordination meeting with Pertamina and established a special task force to monitor distribution.
The government, he said, is closely tracking the situation, including potential impacts on workers, to ensure that shortages at private stations are swiftly addressed through joint supply with Pertamina.
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Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Martha Herlinawati Simanju
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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