President Prabowo Subianto has announced a special diesel price of Rp15,000 per liter for Indonesian fishing companies operating vessels of 30 to 200 GT. The six-month scheme allocates 400,000 tons. BPDP will fund the program without drawing on the state budget. It is awaiting an energy ministry decree before nationwide implementation starts in the coming weeks.

Thekabarnews.com – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has directed the government to implement a special fuel price of Rp15,000 per liter for fishing operators with ships of 30 to 200 gross tonnage (GT).

Prabowo’s cabinet made the decision during a closed meeting at his residence in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Monday, July 13.

After the meeting, Coordinating Economy Minister Erlangga Hartarto announced the price. He said larger fishing operators needed special treatment to maintain their businesses amid elevated energy costs.

Fuel is one of the biggest costs in commercial fishing. The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry earlier estimated fuel accounts for about 70% of the cost of operating at sea.

The ministry also said in April some fishing operators had to pay more than Rp25,000 per liter for non-subsidized fuel. Uneven distribution remained a barrier to access in some areas. Such pressures could lead to a fall in fishing, weaken business income, and impact the domestic seafood supply, the ministry’s official statement said.

Indonesia’s existing fuel regulations already permit smaller fishing vessels up to 30 GT to qualify for subsidized diesel. The new installation is for the larger 30-200 GT segment, which has mostly used industrial or non-subsidised fuel.

Airlangga said the price of domestically produced diesel is about Rp18,600 per liter. The government will pay the estimated Rp3,600 difference between that and the special selling price.

The assistance will not be charged to the state budget (APBN). The government says the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) will pay for the program. In addition, the BPDP has enough money to fund it.

The government figures reported by ANTARA said the scheme would get a 400,000-ton fuel allocation for six months.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has not yet issued its technical decree, preventing the full implementation of the policy. The Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the ministry would immediately prepare the decision.

The government will coordinate distribution with fisheries authorities to verify eligible vessels, monitor purchases, and prevent diversion.

The Fisheries Ministry has already pointed to the need for stricter supervision and better distribution. As a result, cheaper fuel can reach the right people.

If implemented effectively, the scheme could enhance cost certainty for fishing businesses. It may also promote seafood production, maritime employment, and Indonesia’s broader food security agenda.