Jakarta. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has assured the public that Indonesia’s national fuel supplies remain secure, as reports of shortages emerge in Bali and Manado, North Sulawesi.

Bahlil said stocks of subsidized Pertalite gasoline, which has a research octane number (RON) of 90, were sufficient for 16 to 18 days of consumption. Diesel and gasoline with an RON of 92 or higher had reserves covering 18 to 20 days, he said.

He stressed that Pertalite stocks covering less than 20 days did not necessarily indicate a shortage or a breach of minimum reserve requirements.

“Sixteen to 18 days does not mean we are below the minimum standard. That level is still fine,” he said.

To prevent distribution delays from disrupting regional supplies, Bahlil said he had instructed state-owned energy company Pertamina to increase the number of fuel tankers serving affected areas.

One priority is to accelerate shipments from East Java to Bali and other regions that depend on maritime transport for fuel deliveries.

“I have instructed them to immediately double the number of ships to prevent undesirable situations in the regions and speed up distribution,” Bahlil said.

Pertamina has begun sending additional gasoline supplies to Bali and instructed dozens of gas stations to operate around the clock until distribution returns to normal.

Pertamina Patra Niaga, the company’s fuel distribution subsidiary, previously announced plans to deliver approximately 57.9 million liters of gasoline to Bali between Oct. 14 and 17.

The company has also reinforced distribution operations by deploying additional fuel trucks and drivers, including personnel and vehicles brought in from East Java.

In North Sulawesi, Pertamina Patra Niaga’s Sulawesi regional office attributed long queues at gas stations to delays in the arrival of fuel tankers at local supply terminals. The company expects the situation to ease and gradually return to normal within two to three days.

A fuel tanker carrying 3,000 kiloliters of Pertalite arrived in North Sulawesi on Oct. 13, with an additional 5,000 kiloliters scheduled to arrive on Friday.

The additional shipments and distribution measures are intended to ease local supply pressures and prevent logistical bottlenecks from developing into prolonged shortages.

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