progresifjaya.co.id, JAKARTA – Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Gerindra Faction, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, expressed his appreciation for the government’s statement confirming that the prices of subsidized and non-subsidized fuel (BBM) will not increase tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Sufmi Dasco made this statement in response to reports that people have begun panic buying, or flocking to buy fuel at various gas stations due to speculation about a fuel price increase on April 1, 2026. This panic buying has resulted in long lines at several gas stations.
“The Minister of State Secretary, representing the government, just announced that the government has no plans to adjust the prices of subsidized or non-subsidized fuel, as rumors circulating among the public suggest there will be an adjustment on April 1,” said Sufmi Dasco during a press conference at the Parliament Complex on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Therefore, he emphasized, the public should not flock to gas stations to buy fuel, let alone buy in excess of their needs just to hoard.
“This means that starting tomorrow, the same prices will remain in effect, so there’s no need for the public to panic. There’s no need to queue or hoard fuel,” he asserted.
The DPR, he continued, has been in communication with the government under President Prabowo Subianto to ensure the availability of fuel, despite the ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has disrupted global energy supplies.
“The results of our communication with the government demonstrate President Prabowo’s commitment to continue monitoring and maintaining the public’s need for fuel. And once again, we convey our aspirations to the government on this matter,” he emphasized.
However, he also admitted he couldn’t yet confirm how long the government would maintain the prices of subsidized and non-subsidized fuel. He only emphasized that the government had ensured sufficient domestic fuel stocks.
“So if you ask me how long, the answer is, i don’t know yet. Maybe the government knows. But what’s clear is that the government is focused on maintaining that. I also asked earlier, and according to the government, our stocks are sufficient,” he explained.
For the record, global oil prices remained high on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 morning. As of 9:40 a.m. Western Indonesian Time, Brent crude was recorded at US$112.32 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at US$102.53 per barrel, according to Refinitiv data.
In terms of daily movements, oil prices today tended to fluctuate slightly compared to the previous day. However, if we look at the longer term, the upward trend is still clearly visible.
In the past week, Brent has soared from around US$99.94 per barrel on March 23 to above US$112 per barrel, while WTI has risen from US$88.13 to above US$102 per barrel, a sharp surge in a short period of time.
This surge is inextricably linked to the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, which is now starting to directly impact global energy distribution channels. According to Reuters, a giant oil tanker reportedly caught fire after being hit by a drone attack off the coast of Dubai. The vessel was carrying approximately 2 million barrels of oil—worth more than US$200 million at current prices.
This incident is part of a series of attacks on ships in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz since late February. This narrow waterway is more than just a geographical point, as approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Even the slightest disruption in the region is guaranteed to trigger price spikes and market panic. (Bembo)
