Fuel shortages have spread across several regions in Indonesia, with long queues forming at petrol stations in Palangkaraya and Balikpapan following similar disruptions reported earlier in Riau. Motorists have scrambled to secure fuel as supplies of subsidized and non-subsidized fuel products tightened in several areas.

In Palangkaraya, a number of petrol stations operated by state-owned energy company Pertamina reportedly ran out of non-subsidised RON92 fuel, known as Pertamax, while vehicles queued for hours at stations still in operation.

To manage the shortages, Palangkaraya Mayor Fairid Naparin introduced temporary daily fuel purchase limits on May 5. Private cars are now restricted to buying up to 200,000-rupiah worth of subsidized Pertalite and 400,000 rupiah of Pertamax per day, while motorcycles face lower limits. The mayor also banned fuel purchases using jerrycans or drums for resale and prohibited modified fuel tanks at stations.

According to The Straits Times, the restrictions were introduced to ensure fair fuel distribution as panic buying and supply bottlenecks worsened queues across the city.

In Balikpapan, hundreds of truck drivers and students staged protests outside the local legislative council on May 4, demanding improved access to subsidized diesel. Drivers said many had been forced to wait up to three days to refuel, with only a small number of stations supplying subsidized diesel fuel.

The shortages come as Pertamina recently raised prices for several non-subsidised fuel products amid rising global oil prices linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. However, the company has insisted that Indonesia’s national fuel supply remains secure, blaming the long queues on increased holiday travel, panic buying and distribution bottlenecks.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia also said national fuel and crude oil stocks remain above minimum reserve levels despite global market disruptions.

BOB Post