Indonesia to Introduce Discounted Fuel Prices for Larger Fishing Vessels  

Bogor: The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) will soon issue a ministerial decree introducing a discounted diesel pricing scheme for fishing vessels between 30 and 200 gross tons (GT), with fuel prices set at IDR15,000 per liter.
 
“We will move quickly to implement the president’s directive,” Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, West Java, as reported by Antara on Monday, July 13, 2026.
 
The scheme comes as global energy prices continue to surge amid the US-Iran conflict, with commercial diesel prices reaching IDR21,300 per liter.
 
Unlike traditional fishermen operating vessels under 30 GT –,who benefit from subsidized diesel priced at IDR6,800 per liter,– medium-to-large-scale fishermen have borne the brunt of rising fuel costs.
 
“We hope this scheme will provide greater certainty for and safeguard our domestic fisheries,” Bahlil said.
 
The government has agreed to finance the fuel subsidy through the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), with sufficient funds guaranteed.
 
“The subsidy -,IDR 3,600 per liter,- will be funded entirely by the BPDP,” Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said.
 
In light of recent large-scale corruption cases, the ESDM also plans to tighten oversight of fuel distribution channels and map out distribution points in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
 
“We will coordinate with the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister to ensure that the scheme proceeds accordingly,” Bahlil said.
 
(Jonathan Sianto)