Vice President (Wapres) Gibran Rakabuming visited Pulau Baai Port in Bengkulu on Tuesday (27/05/2025). The port, managed by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo), plays a crucial role in the region’s logistics and energy distribution.
The visit was a direct response to recent reports of fuel shortages affecting local communities in Bengkulu, as well as disruptions in the supply of basic necessities to Enggano Island.
Vice President Gibran emphasized the importance of ensuring stable logistics and energy distribution across the country, a key priority of the President Prabowo Subianto’s cabinet.
The people of Bengkulu had been voicing a growing concern: fuel shortages that threatened daily life and a stalled supply of essential goods, especially to the remote Enggano Island. In an archipelago as vast and fragmented as Indonesia, when ports choke, entire communities are left gasping.
The Vice President came not just to inspect the port managed by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo), but to deliver a message—of apology, of resolve, and of action.
“We are deeply sorry to the people of Bengkulu,” he said, “for the disruptions and hardships caused by this breakdown in our logistics and energy distribution,” he said.
But this visit was not just a gesture of empathy. It was a hands-on follow-up, as part of the Red and White Cabinet’s broader mission under President Prabowo Subianto: to ensure energy and logistics stability across all regions, especially the periphery.
According to the official statement from the Wapresri.go.id portal, Gibran issued four clear and urgent directives during his on-site review—addressed to regional officials, Pelindo leadership, and relevant ministries.
First, he stressed that the issue is now a top national priority. In line with President Prabowo’s vision, anything that directly affects the welfare of the people must be dealt with swiftly and seriously.
Second, he ordered PT Pelindo to expedite the dredging of the port’s heavily silted shipping lanes. Years of sedimentation, worsened by storms and natural erosion, had reduced the channel depth to a mere 1.5 meters—far too shallow for fuel tankers or cargo ships to enter safely.
Third, while waiting for dredging operations to restore access, he instructed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), PT Pertamina, and local governments to reroute fuel supplies through land-based alternatives, ensuring no community is left stranded in the interim.
Fourth, Gibran promised direct oversight. He will personally monitor progress through regular reports from the Bengkulu government, Pelindo, Pertamina, and the ESDM Ministry to ensure the response stays on track and delivers results.
The situation is dire but not without hope. At the heart of the solution lies the Costa Fortuna 3, a CSD (Cutter Suction Dredger) vessel that has already arrived at Pulau Baai. Soon, it will begin the massive task of restoring the port’s depth and functionality.
For many in Bengkulu, the visit was a sign that Jakarta is listening.
Vice President Gibran wasn’t alone. His entourage included DPD Chairman Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, Bengkulu Governor Helmi Hasan, Pangdam II/Sriwijaya Ujang Darwis, Bengkulu Police Chief Mardiyono, Acting Secretary of the Vice President Al Muktabar, as well as top officials from Pelindo, President Director Arif Suhartono and Regional Executive Director Drajat Sulistyo.