Labuan Bajo fuel terminal anchors Flores supply after August quake

Labuan Bajo — Pertamina and Indonesia’s downstream oil and gas regulator BPH Migas say fuel supplies in Flores, including West Manggarai and Labuan Bajo, remain secure following the mid-August earthquake, with the Labuan Bajo fuel terminal operating as a key strategic hub for the region’s energy distribution.

The Labuan Bajo Fuel Terminal stores around 344 kiloliters of Pertamax and Pertamina Dex and serves four gas stations, one marine fuel station (SPBUN) and three Pertashop outlets, according to company statements reported by Infobanknews and Koran Jakarta.

Both outlets report that fuel deliveries to West Manggarai and surrounding areas continued despite temporary disruptions to road access after the quake, helped by coordination across Pertamina’s operational units and the use of alternative routes.

Fuel network serving West Manggarai

Infobanknews describes the Labuan Bajo terminal as a strategic facility supporting fuel distribution to West Manggarai and nearby areas. Koran Jakarta similarly reports that the terminal plays a central role in maintaining fuel resilience for the district, including the tourism hub of Labuan Bajo.

Pertamina’s President Commissioner, Mochamad Iriawan, is quoted by Koran Jakarta as saying that Labuan Bajo’s fuel terminal is crucial in maintaining fuel security in the district and surrounding areas. He highlighted rapid responses across Pertamina’s operations after road access between Ruteng and Labuan Bajo was temporarily cut, preventing tank trucks from using the main land route.

According to Koran Jakarta, fuel distribution to the affected areas continued by using alternative transport arrangements and coordination across operational units, avoiding shortages of fuel in the earthquake-hit zones. Infobanknews reports that Pertamina continued monitoring the condition of its infrastructure and kept operating units on standby to maintain supply.

Safety checks and operational readiness

Infobanknews reports that Pertamina carried out safety checks on staff and assets at the Labuan Bajo terminal, as well as other facilities in impacted areas, to ensure that energy infrastructure remained safe and operational. The company said it was prioritising public and worker safety alongside operational reliability and support for post-earthquake recovery.

Koran Jakarta notes that Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Muhammad Baron, stated the company was continuously monitoring field conditions and ensuring energy infrastructure operated optimally. Baron said Pertamina was maintaining adequate fuel stocks and ongoing distribution while keeping operational units ready to respond to changes in the situation.

Regional supply picture after the earthquake

The Flores earthquake struck on Saturday, 15 August 2026, and prompted a series of adjustments to fuel distribution across the island. BPH Migas reported that fuel availability in Labuan Bajo and wider Flores remained sufficient and safe, with strengthened distribution measures following the disaster.

Other national and regional outlets report that Pertamina deployed alternative supply routes, including sea transport, to maintain deliveries to Flores and West Manggarai. For example, coverage in RMOL and Liputan6 describes tank trucks being shipped by ferry from Bima in West Nusa Tenggara to Labuan Bajo carrying fuel and aviation fuel to support local communities and air services.

According to BPH Migas and subsequent media reporting, most fuel terminals and outlets in Flores have since returned to normal or near-normal operations, although the Reo terminal initially required manual operations and additional checks following the quake.

Within this wider network, the Labuan Bajo Fuel Terminal is consistently identified by Pertamina and regulators as one of the key facilities ensuring stable fuel supply to West Manggarai and the surrounding tourism region in the weeks after the earthquake.

Sources

• Infobanknews
• Koran Jakarta
• Metro TV / metrotvnews.com
• RMOL
• BPH Migas
• Harian Disway