Jakarta. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has temporarily lifted the requirement for residents in disaster-affected areas of Sumatra to use barcodes when purchasing subsidized fuel, following severe disruption caused by floods and landslides.

The barcode system — mandatory for buying subsidized fuels such as Pertalite, priced at Rp 10,000 ($0.6) per liter — is normally used to control consumption. Vehicle owners must register their license plates with the traffic administration office (Samsat) and download Pertamina’s app to obtain the code.

“No one needs to use a barcode for now. This is to anticipate disruptions in fuel distribution,” Bahlil said during a visit to flood-hit areas in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.

He stressed that the policy is strictly temporary, introduced because hydrometeorological disasters have damaged fuel-distribution routes, severed internet networks and isolated communities after bridges were destroyed by flash floods.

Although the restrictions are suspended, Bahlil urged residents to use subsidized fuel responsibly.

“I ask everyone not to misuse this policy. Please use fuel only according to actual need,” he said.

The emergency measure is expected to facilitate fuel supply for logistics distribution, heavy-equipment operations and disaster-response teams across the three affected provinces: West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh.

To support uninterrupted distribution, Pertamina has accelerated deliveries and deployed additional fuel tankers and transport personnel, Bahlil added.