Pertamina Patra Niaga Cracks Down on Misuse of Subsidized Fuel in West Sumatra

Pertamina Patra Niaga is tightening controls on subsidized fuel distribution after inspectors found several irregularities at a gas station in Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra. The findings included fuel being supplied to vehicles outside the program's intended allocation, QR codes that did not match the vehicles using them, and QR codes being used repeatedly for transactions.

Through its Sumbagut regional operation, Pertamina provided guidance and imposed sanctions on the station's operator following the inspection. The company said the measures aim to ensure that subsidized fuel reaches people who qualify for it and that distributors follow operating rules.

“Every finding is followed up through inspection, guidance, or sanctions in accordance with the regulations,” Kitty Andhora, Pertamina Patra Niaga's vice president of corporate communication, said. “We want to ensure that improper practices do not ultimately reduce the rights of people who are entitled to receive subsidized fuel.”

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Every finding is followed up through inspection, guidance, or sanctions in accordance with the regulations. We want to ensure that improper practices do not ultimately reduce the rights of people who are entitled to receive subsidized fuel.

From January through August 2026, 31 gas stations in West Sumatra received guidance or sanctions over various distribution violations. Pertamina said enforcement is accompanied by efforts to strengthen station management. Two stations entered operating cooperation agreements with Pertamina Retail in 2026, while another remains in process. Overall, six stations in West Sumatra have entered such agreements.

“Enforcement is not the end of the process,” Kitty said, adding that Pertamina is evaluating operations and improving governance so that compliance, operating standards and service quality continue to rise. The company said oversight is coordinated with the West Sumatra police and provincial government. It urged station operators to follow the rules and asked the public to report suspected misuse through the Pertamina Contact Center at 135.

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Enforcement is not the end of the process. We also evaluate and strengthen governance so that operating standards, compliance, and the quality of gas-station services continue to improve.