Indonesia's Luhut notes adequate fuel, LPG amid Middle East tensions

hartono · Mar 11, 2026

Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (right) holds a meeting on national energy supplies with senior officials from state-run oil and gas giant Pertamina in Jakarta on Wednesday (March 11, 2026). (ANTARA/HO-DEN)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, assured the public that the government had secured sufficient supplies of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) despite concerns over geopolitical disruptions.

"Overall, the national fuel supply remains at an adequate level, so there is no need to dwell on unfounded concerns about a transport fuel crisis. We have sufficient reserves to keep the supply stable," he remarked in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Speaking after a meeting with senior officials from state energy company Pertamina, Luhut emphasized that the same trend also applies to national LPG needs.

"The government, through Pertamina, has prepared concrete mitigation measures, ranging from optimizing refinery output to reconfiguring energy production and establishing coordination with global suppliers," he added.

For gasoline needs, the DEN chairman noted that Pertamina had taken steps to boost the production of subsidized fuel, Pertalite. The company has also consulted with its gas subsidiary PGN to explore the feasibility of redirecting LPG supplies from industries to households.

He added that Pertamina aims to promote the use of compressed natural gas to meet industrial needs as an alternative to LPG.

Luhut further said that the government seeks stronger coordination with relevant state firms as part of efforts to ensure sufficient supplies of fuel and LPG during the Eid al-Fitr holiday and homecoming season.

The meeting also addressed updates on two Pertamina vessels—Pertamina Pride and Gamsunoro—currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, unable to return to Indonesia due to escalating conflict and worsening security in the region.

He confirmed that both ships are safe and not in an emergency despite having to hold their position. He added that the government maintains communication with the crews every four hours to ensure their safety and obtain updates on the situation.

To reassure the public, Luhut said the government had observed indications that G7 countries might decide to release their oil reserves to help ease concerns, with regional tensions possibly lowering in the coming weeks.

"We are optimistic that national energy reserves will suffice," he concluded.