Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has announced the 110 percent increase from last year’s fuel import quota for the private sector as part of the efforts to guarantee the stability of the country’s fuel supply. 

"This increase in the import quota has been agreed upon and is aimed at ensuring a continuous and adequate fuel supply," Bahlil said after a meeting with energy companies − Pertamina, AKR, VIVO, BP AKR, and Exxon − on Friday, September 19, 2025.

He confirmed that fuel supply in the country remains sufficient, with reserves expected to last for the next 18 to 21 days. However, he acknowledged the challenges faced by private gas stations, where fuel reserves have started to decline. To address this, the government has designed a collaborative approach, allowing private companies to purchase fuel in cooperation with State energy company Pertamina.

"The agreement ensures that fuel procurement will be based on base fuel, without any additives, and it will be carried out transparently through joint surveyors," Bahlil told a press conference on Friday. "Our goal is to keep the fuel prices stable and fair for both Pertamina and private sector players."

This move is part of a broader effort to stabilize the fuel market while ensuring that Pertamina improves its services to remain competitive. "We have agreed on an open-book system and business-to-business transactions to guarantee transparency and fairness in the process," Bahlil said.

"In the coming 7 days, fuel shipments will arrive in Indonesia, ensuring that we continue to meet the nation's needs," he concluded, underlining the government's commitment to maintaining a steady and reliable fuel supply.

As reported by BBC Indonesia, fuel shortages at private gas stations, particularly those operated by Shell and BP, have been reported since late August 2025. Shell officially announced on August 25 that its products, including Shell Super, Shell V-Power, and Shell V-Power Nitro+, were unavailable at several of its gas stations, with no specific timeline for when supplies would be restored.

Despite these shortages, Shell continued to provide Shell V-Power Diesel and other services to its customers. "Shell Indonesia is committed to ensuring the smooth distribution and supply of fuel at our Shell gas stations," the company stated, adding that they have been in continuous coordination with the ESDM ministry to resolve the proble.

As of September 15, 2025, fuel availability remained inconsistent across Shell stations. Only Shell Super was available at over 10 locations in Jakarta, West Java, East Java, and Banten, while other Shell products were still out of stock with no estimated restocking date.

On the ground, BBC Indonesia observed that the supply situation was highly variable. For instance, Shell’s gas station on Jalan Raya Kenjeran in Surabaya had no fuel at all, with staff informing customers of the ongoing shortages. In contrast, another Shell station on Jalan Pemuda in Surabaya was still operational, with lines forming for Shell Super 92 and Shell V-Power 94.

Similarly, BP stations also faced severe stock shortages. At the BP station on Jalan Raya Gubeng, Surabaya, all fuel pumps were marked with "out of service" signs, and customers were turned away without fuel. "The supply has been empty for over a month," said two BP employees at the station.

BP's Bandung stations, including those in Buah Batu and Pelajar Pejuang, also reported fuel shortages, with notices indicating that full services could not be provided.

BP Indonesia's CEO, Vanda Laura, said that the company had to reassess its business plans, including its expansion plans for new gas stations, due to the ongoing shortages. "If we open new stations without fuel, it would be a waste," she noted.

The ESDM ministry suggested that the shortages were partly due to a shift in fuel consumption patterns, with more consumers moving from subsidized RON 90 fuels to non-subsidized options. Laode Sulaeman, Director General of Oil and Gas at ESDM ministry, commented, "It’s a consumption shift, nothing more."