Reading a Comparison of Fuel Consumption Classes for Indonesian Transportation

A report from the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) shows that the volume of fuel oil (BBM) consumption in the Indonesian transportation sector fluctuates.

At least four classes of BBM are commonly used by Indonesians: RON 88, RON 90, RON 92, and RON 95+98+100.

RON 88, commonly known by the trade name Premium from Pertamina, is the lowest octane BBM and has not been used since 2023. However, its consumption was quite high, even reaching 28.62 million kiloliters (kl) in 2013. Consumption then steadily decreased to 6.11 thousand kl in 2022.

The second largest consumption is RON 90, found in Pertamina's Pertalite BBM. This fuel was only used massively in 2015 with a volume of 379.95 thousand kl. The figure soared to 14.48 million kl in 2017 and reached 30.22 million kl in 2023—the highest in a decade.

Third is RON 92, with consumption reaching 850.4 thousand kl in 2013. Its volume then increased to 5.4 million kl in 2023. The consumption range of this type of fuel has been maintained between 850 thousand and 6 million kl over the last decade.

Fourth is RON 95+98+100 with the highest octane, commonly found in Pertamax Green 95, Shell V-Power Revvo 95, Performance 95, and BP 95. Its consumption has been in the range of 150 thousand to 480 thousand kl over the past 10 years. The highest consumption occurred in 2021, at 481.18 thousand kl.

According to *Katadata.co.id*, the government plans to limit the distribution of subsidized BBM in October 2024. This was revealed by the Minister of ESDM, Bahlil Lahadalia, on Tuesday (27/8/2024).

Energy observer from Gadjah Mada University, Fahmy Radhi, said that this limitation plan is ineffective. "It won't be effective because currently there are no clear criteria to implement," said Fahmy to *Katadata.co.id* on Thursday (29/8/2024).

He stated that before the government plans to limit subsidized BBM, several processes should be carried out, first by deciding on the mechanism to be used.

"I suggest, for example, that this subsidized BBM can only be consumed by motorcycles, freight vehicles, and yellow-plated passenger vehicles. So that gas stations can easily determine which consumers use subsidized BBM; besides these three groups, they must use non-subsidized BBM," he said.

After the government has determined the criteria, the next step is to establish the legal basis, in this case, a revision of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 191 of 2014 concerning the Provision, Distribution, and Retail Sale Price of Fuel Oil.

"If there are deviations but there is a legal basis, then the authorities can take action, but as it is now, they can't," he said.

Third, Fahmy mentioned that the government must socialize the limitations on subsidized BBM. This socialization includes the reasons for the government's policy, aimed at reducing air pollution.

(See also: Consumption of Pertalite-Class Fuel Increases, Reaches Record in 2023)