Jakarta. Indonesians have been urged to use fuel more wisely, with around 60% of the country’s fuel supply still dependent on imports to meet domestic demand.

Consumer protection activist Tulus Abadi said fuel is a shrinking commodity whose price remains highly vulnerable to multiple factors, including global geopolitical developments, making future costs increasingly expensive.

“The public must understand that this is an imported commodity, so its use should be approached carefully,” Tulus said on Sunday.

According to data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Indonesia’s average national fuel consumption through mid-April 2026 stood at 1.6 million barrels per day.

Throughout 2025, gasoline demand remained heavily reliant on imports, which accounted for 60.18% of total domestic needs.

Singapore, which doesn't have crude reserves, was the largest source of gasoline imports, supplying 63% of the total volume, followed by Malaysia at 33.14%, China at 1.32%, and Oman at 1.05%.

By contrast, diesel imports in 2025 accounted for only 12.17% of total national demand.

Tulus urged the government to continue educating the public about geopolitical risks that directly affect fuel prices and state finances, so consumers can better understand the urgency of conserving fuel.

He said state-owned energy company Pertamina’s decision to raise prices for higher-grade fuels by more than 50% was unavoidable, as prices for such products follow international market mechanisms.

According to Tulus, instability in the Middle East has had a significant impact on Indonesia’s domestic energy procurement costs.

“I believe this was unavoidable. What matters is that the government or operators do not set excessive prices, and that adjustments reflect global crude oil prices,” he said.

He added that if world oil prices decline, the government and Pertamina should promptly lower domestic fuel prices as well, so consumers feel they are being treated fairly.