Have you ever noticed how private gas stations are often crowded, even though their fuel prices are higher than subsidized ones?
This small shift in consumer choice reflects a change in trust, comfort, and daily habits that’s slowly reshaping how Indonesians fill their tanks.
According to data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the consumption of non-subsidized fuel at private gas stations continues to rise. As of the first week of September 2025, the volume shift from subsidized to non-subsidized fuel has reached 1.4 million kiloliters (KL).
(Source: SINDOnews)
Surveys also show growing ‘trust-issues’ toward Pertamina. Many drivers say they prefer private gas stations because they believe the fuel quality and service there are more reliable.
(Source: Listrik Indonesia)
Convenience is another deciding factor: private gas stations are often easier to access, have shorter queues, and consistently provide certain fuel types that may be unavailable at government-subsidized stations, especially in specific regions.
(Public opinion from related news coverage, Source: Industri Kontan)
Advantages & Challenges
Advantages:
- Quality & Standards: Private gas stations often offer cleaner, non-subsidized fuel, better facilities, and faster service compared to subsidized options.
- Availability & Location: For many, private stations are easier to reach, either because of their strategic location or longer operating hours.
- Trust: Concerns about quality control and reliability at subsidized stations, often highlighted by social or legal issues, have pushed some consumers to switch.
Challenges:
- Higher Cost: Non-subsidized fuel can be significantly more expensive, burdening lower- and middle-income households.
- Limited Accessibility: Not everyone has a nearby private station, nor the financial flexibility to consistently choose non-subsidized fuel.
- Supply Uncertainty: Some private stations occasionally run out of stock or don’t offer all fuel types, limiting consumer options.
Beyond Price: A Matter of Experience and Trust
Switching to private fuel stations isn’t just about the price tag, it’s about experience, trust, and access.
To make this transition fairer and more sustainable, a few key steps are needed:
- Stronger regulation to ensure consistent fuel quality and service standards at both public and private stations.
- Improved infrastructure to make non-subsidized options more accessible across regions.
- Public education on long-term costs, environmental impacts, and the real benefits of different fuel choices, so consumers can make more informed decisions.
Have you ever switched to a private gas station? What was your reason? Comfort, trust, or something else?
Share your story in the comments or on social media. Sometimes, the smallest experiences can reveal the biggest shifts in what society truly needs.