October 1, 2025 | 08:54 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Director of BP-AKR Indonesia, Vanda Laura, revealed that the company is currently grappling with fuel shortages, a situation that has persisted since June 2025.
To address the crisis, BP-AKR has requested an increase in import quotas from the government, but the response has fallen short of expectations.
Vanda explained that in July 2025, the government approved import permits equal to 110 percent of the company’s 2024 sales volume.
“If it’s only 110 percent, it’s certainly not enough. Moreover, we plan to open 10 new fuel stations by the end of this year,” she said during a hearing with Commission XII of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
She stressed that a larger quota is essential to support the company’s long-term expansion. BP-AKR is targeting 250 fuel stations across Indonesia by 2030, up from its current 107 stations.
“We hope the quota can be increased by more than 10 percent from last year. The investments we make now are meant to sustain future investments,” Vanda said.
At present, fuel stocks across BP-AKR’s network are critically low. Only one or two stations are still operating, and supplies are expected to last no more than a month. Despite the shortage, Vanda said the company continues to coordinate with the government and other stakeholders.
She also affirmed BP-AKR’s commitment to follow the direction of Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, particularly in collaborating with Pertamina Patra Niaga to secure supply.
Canceled Agreement with Pertamina
The shortage has been compounded by the collapse of an earlier arrangement with Pertamina. Deputy Director of Pertamina Patra Niaga, Achmad Muchtasyar, said that both Shell and BP-AKR had initially agreed to purchase base fuel imported by Pertamina.
However, both companies later backed out after laboratory tests found ethanol content in the product.
“Before 6 p.m. yesterday, AKR stated they wouldn’t proceed. Then, at 7:40 p.m., Vivo also canceled. In the end, BP-AKR did not continue,” Achmad said.
Tests on a shipment aboard the MT Sakura showed ethanol levels of 3.5 percent. It is well below the regulatory cap of 20 percent, but still enough to cause hesitation among private operators.
Each fuel brand maintains its own product specifications, and Achmad noted that companies insisted on receiving supplies that met their standards.
As a result, none of Pertamina’s imported base fuel has been absorbed by private operators to date. Discussions are still ongoing over technical and commercial terms, including transaction schemes, required volumes, and pricing models under a cost-plus-fee system.
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