With the Idul Fitri festivities only a month away, many people are starting to prepare for the daunting annual exodus that will see millions stuck in seemingly endless traffic, wasting tankfulls of fuel before even reaching their hometowns.

Syaefullah, an employee of a private company, said that lines at gas stations were often long and tedious during his annual eight-hour journey by motorcycle to his hometown in Indramayu, West Java.

“I fill up my tank with Premium three times during the journey, but usually there is just a little left when I reach home,” he said on Friday.

This fear of running out of gas is shared by hair stylist Asep Sujatmin. He said that he would always fill up his fuel tank with Premium gasoline before traveling home to Sukabumi, West Java, from Serpong, Banten, to celebrate Idul Fitri with his family.

“I usually leave the night before when it’s not so congested, so it usually takes me four hours to get there,” he told The Jakarta Post.

The Transportation Ministry estimates that a total of 26.1 million people will participate in this year’s exodus.

More than 5.6 million people will travel by private transportation, such as by motorcycle and car, while the remaining 17.9 million people will use public transportation modes such as trains and aircraft.

For those using private transportation, state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina is already preparing stocks to prevent them from running out of fuel.

It is preparing 1.32 million kiloliters of Premium-brand gasoline, enough to last 17 days. According to its projections, peak fuel demand will occur four days before Idul Fitri, which is a Saturday, and three days after the celebrations, which is a Sunday.

Pertamina spokesperson Wianda Pusponegoro said that demand for Premium gasoline would increase by 50 percent during the first peak to around 107,859 kl compared to average daily consumption of 71,906 kl.

Consumption will increase again three days after Idul Fitri by around 25 percent to reach 89,882 kl.

“Pertamina has projected that daily Premium use from 15 days before [Idul Fitri] to 15 days after [the holidays] will increase by 15 percent from an average of 71,906 kl,” she said during a press conference at Pertamina headquarters.

This increase is similar to that which it recorded last year.

While Premium gasoline consumption is expected to rise, consumption of subsidized diesel, locally known as solar, will experience a 12 percent decrease to 31,118 kl compared to normal days.

Pertamina attributes this decline to the temporary shutdown of industry and the prohibition of large trucks from main roads during the holiday season.

Even so, Pertamina has prepared 1.6 million kl of solar, enough to cover 28 days’ demand.

It has also prepared 430,053 kl of non-subsidized fuels Pertamax and Pertalite. These two fuel brands are enjoying increased popularity these days as a result of the public’s rising awareness of better quality fuels.

Pertamina estimates that daily Pertamax consumption will increase by 17 percent to 11,847 kl, while that of Pertalite will surge 43 percent to 10,234 kl.

Central Java, West Sumatra and Lampung are the three provinces with the highest expected increase in consumption at 62 percent, 49 percent and 43 percent, respectively.

Pertamina will also sell Pertamax in 1- to 10-liter plastic packs at gas stations and rest areas to provide easy access for people lining up to fill their tanks.
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