Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The Investment and Downstream Industrialization Ministry warned that ongoing fuel shortages at several private gas station networks could hurt investor confidence and slow business expansion in the energy retail sector.
Deputy Minister for Investment and Downstreaming Todotua Pasaribu said the government is working with private fuel retailers and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) to address supply disruptions that have persisted since August. The issue, he said, could undermine the investment climate if left unresolved.
"We received letters from private operators expressing concern about business continuity amid the fuel shortage," Todotua said after a meeting with company executives and ESDM officials at the ministry's Jakarta headquarters on Tuesday. "The government must be present to ensure investment certainty."
The shortage has affected major private retailers, including Shell, BP-AKR, Vivo, AKR, and ExxonMobil, many of which reported dwindling fuel supplies at their service stations in recent weeks. The ministry assured investors that it will streamline licensing and regulatory coordination to stabilize fuel distribution and support long-term business plans.
In response, Pertamina Patra Niaga, the trading arm of state energy company Pertamina, said two private retailers, Vivo and BP-AKR, have agreed to advance stalled talks over base fuel imports to the technical stage. The agreement marks a breakthrough after earlier negotiations faltered over ethanol content requirements.
"Vivo and BP-AKR have agreed to move forward to technical discussions," said Pertamina Patra Niaga's acting corporate secretary, Roberth MV Dumatubun, on Monday. The talks will include drafting a declaration to ensure compliance with anti-trust, anti-bribery, and anti-money laundering policies, as well as determining fuel volume needs and product specifications.
Pertamina will adjust its fuel products to meet each retailer's technical requirements and coordinate the procurement process to prevent duplication in shipments. Once a tender winner is selected, the parties will finalize commercial terms and conduct joint inspections before deliveries begin, expected around the third week of October.
Meanwhile, Shell is still awaiting approval from its headquarters to resume negotiations, while ExxonMobil plans to begin talks in November, as its current stock remains sufficient.
."Our priority is to maintain business certainty and ensure that both foreign and domestic investors can operate comfortably in Indonesia," Todotua said.