Indonesia Gas Station Queues Linked to Shift to Subsidized Fuel

Long queues at Indonesian gas stations are primarily caused by consumers shifting from non-subsidized to subsidized fuel, according to the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas).

Wahyudi Anas, head of BPH Migas, stated that the price increase for non-subsidized fuels like Pertamax and Dex Series in June 2026 prompted this change in consumer behavior. He noted that the distribution of subsidized solar fuel has reached 50.85% of its annual quota, kerosene at 48.91%, and Pertalite at 47.68%.

Pertamina Patra Niaga, the fuel distribution arm of state energy company Pertamina, acknowledged distribution delays in Sumatra as a contributing factor to the queues. Taufik Aditiyawarman, Vice President Director of Pertamina Patra Niaga, apologized for the inconvenience and outlined measures to address the issue. These include increasing fuel supply, optimizing distribution patterns with more vehicles, extending operating hours for some gas stations, and boosting distribution from depots.

Despite the current situation, Aditiyawarman assured that Pertamina Patra Niaga can still meet consumer demand, with total fuel and LPG supply reaching 3.61 million kiloliters as of Thursday morning. The company is committed to improving its services and ensuring adequate fuel availability across the country.