Executive Summary

Key insights and market outlook

The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) highlights the chronic fuel shortage in Manokwari, West Papua, where only 2 out of 6 SPBU can distribute subsidized diesel ¹

². Commission XII DPR RI members urged Pertamina to increase the number of SPBU that can serve solar fuel, citing decades-long queues. BPH Migas confirmed that technical standards and monitoring requirements are the main obstacles preventing other SPBU from distributing subsidized fuel ².

Full Analysis

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Deep Dive Analysis

Papua Fuel Distribution Issues Persist as SPBU Limitations Cause Long Queues

Decades-Long Problem in Manokwari, West Papua

The Indonesian House of Representatives' Commission XII has brought attention to the persistent fuel distribution issues in Manokwari, West Papua, where local residents have been experiencing long queues for subsidized diesel fuel for decades ¹

. The problem stems from the limited number of SPBU (gas stations) that are authorized to distribute subsidized solar fuel.

Limited SPBU Capacity Exacerbates Fuel Shortage

Out of the six SPBU in Manokwari, only two are currently able to serve subsidized diesel ¹

². Commission XII members, including Alfons Manibui from Golkar and Cheroline Chrisye Makalew from NasDem, highlighted the need for a more equitable distribution of subsidized fuel among available SPBU. They urged Pertamina to consider increasing the number of SPBU authorized to distribute solar fuel to alleviate the chronic shortage ¹.

Technical and Regulatory Challenges

Wahyudi Anas, Chairman of BPH Migas (Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency), acknowledged the limited capacity of SPBU in Manokwari during a hearing with Commission XII. He explained that the four SPBU not currently serving subsidized diesel lack the necessary technical standards, particularly in terms of monitoring and digital surveillance capabilities required for distributing subsidized fuel ²

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Path Forward: Enhanced Collaboration and Infrastructure

The issue has prompted calls for greater collaboration between Pertamina, BPH Migas, and local authorities to address both the immediate fuel shortage and the underlying infrastructure challenges. While the current focus is on potentially increasing the number of authorized SPBU, stakeholders must also work to ensure that additional SPBU meet the required technical standards for subsidized fuel distribution.

References