The government has acknowledged recent shortages of non-subsidized fuel at several private filling stations (SPBU), including Shell and BP-AKR, citing a shift in consumer demand following new restrictions on subsidized fuel purchases.

Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Yuliot Tanjung said the scarcity was largely driven by changes in purchasing patterns after state-owned energy company Pertamina required buyers of subsidized Pertalite (RON 90 gasoline) and Diesel Fuel to register and use QR codes.

“As Pertamina enforces the QR code, some people may not have registered, or their vehicle engine capacity is not eligible. This has caused a shift from subsidized Pertalite to non-subsidized fuel, leading to a spike in demand,” Yuliot told reporters at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

According to the ministry’s calculations, the migration reached around 1.4 million kiloliters (kl) of fuel, straining supplies at private stations. “That shift alone accounts for about 1.4 million kl. This is what has driven the surge in demand for non-subsidized fuel at private companies,” he said

Director General of Oil and Gas at the ESDM ministry, Laode Sulaeman, confirmed the trend, noting that more motorists were now using fuel types with higher octane levels (above RON 92). “People no longer rely solely on subsidized fuel. They are also shifting to higher-grade fuel,” Laode said.

The shortages have not only been reported at Pertamina stations but also at outlets run by private operators. In response, the ministry plans to summon private fuel retailers next week to discuss supply synchronization with Pertamina.

Laode said private operators had already been granted a 10 percent increase in their import quotas compared to last year, bringing the total quota to 110 percent of 2024’s realized imports. However, actual demand has exceeded projections.

“The synchronization we are talking about is optimizing domestic supply, particularly from Pertamina, to balance with private imports,” Laode said.