Fuel Shortage and Queues in Makassar Resolved After Government Action
Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced that the fuel shortage and long queues in Makassar have been cleared and supplies restored.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia reported that the fuel shortage and accompanying long lines in Makassar, South Sulawesi, have been fully resolved, with national reserves still meeting the 18-20-day minimum. He traced the problem to a shift toward subsidized fuel caused by global crude prices exceeding $100 per barrel, creating a price gap that prompted consumers to switch. Police investigations revealed illegal hoarding, including vehicles equipped with tanks up to a metric ton, which intensified the queues.
President Prabowo Subianto directed the matter be addressed urgently, and the government is working closely with state oil company Pertamina to enforce distribution policies. Bahlil also called on affluent drivers to refrain from using subsidized fuel, emphasizing that the aid is intended for those who qualify.
Why it matters
The resolution shows how price spikes and illegal hoarding can disrupt fuel access, prompting swift government intervention.
How this story developed
- Sep 14 Kalimantan haze forces delays for 73 flights at Supadio Airport
- Sep 14 At a formal event in Jakarta's State Palace, President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Suahasil Nazara as the new Minister of Finance, succeeding Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. The change was enacted through Presidential Decree Number 97P of 2026, covering the rest of the 2024-2029 Red and White Cabinet term. Suahasil pledged loyalty to the 1945 Constitution and committed to implementing laws diligently. Both the president and the new minister signed the official inauguration record, and President Prabowo extended congratulations to Nazara and his family. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming, along with other coordinating ministers, attended the ceremony, making Nazara the third finance minister under Prabowo's leadership.
- Sep 14 Suahasil Nazara was appointed as Indonesia's finance minister, replacing Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
- Sep 17 Nazara pledged to keep the deficit under 3 % of GDP.
- Sep 17 Indonesia broadened its wildfire‑containment operations to additional provinces and national parks.
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