BP orders another 100,000 barrels from Pertamina; Vivo nears agreement

Private fuel retailer BP AKR has ordered an additional 100,000 barrels of base fuel from state-owned Pertamina Patra Niaga to stabilize supply across its gas stations, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

“BP AKR will order another 100,000 barrels in two weeks, in the third week of November,” said Director General of Oil and Gas Laode Sulaeman on Friday.

The purchase follows BP’s initial order of 100,000 barrels at the end of October, marking continued collaboration between the joint venture and Pertamina amid protracted fuel shortages affecting private operators since mid-August.

After weeks of government-facilitated negotiations, BP-AKR last month announced that fuel supplies at all BP stations had been restored, allowing customers to access its full product lineup including BP 92 with ACTIVE technology, BP Ultimate, and BP Ultimate Diesel.

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Sulaeman said the government is still reviewing data from private operators before finalizing import quota allocations for 2026. He added that authorities may reinstate the additional 10 percent import quota previously granted to non-subsidized fuel retailers.

Fuel supply disruptions have affected multiple private brands—including BP, Shell, and Vivo—since August, following the government’s tighter control of import quotas. The restrictions, criticized by Indonesia’s competition watchdog KPPU as anticompetitive, have forced private operators to rely on Pertamina for supply.

Vivo nears supply deal

Besides BP, PT Vivo Energy Indonesia is also nearing an agreement to purchase about 100,000 barrels of base fuel from Pertamina Patra Niaga, Sulaeman said. Vivo had previously agreed to buy 40,000 barrels from Pertamina in late September but canceled the deal after laboratory tests found about 3.5 percent ethanol content in the shipment.

Negotiations with Shell are still ongoing. “I plan to meet Shell representatives soon to discuss a possible fuel supply arrangement,” Sulaeman added.

Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia earlier directed private fuel retailers to utilize Pertamina’s import quota to ensure supply stability at their outlets, following the shortages that began in mid-August.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak