TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, confirmed that the process of crude oil imports from Russia is underway. The contract, he said, has been signed by the Public Service Agency (BLU) of Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technology (Lemigas).
"The volume can be developed more in the future," Bahlil told journalists after attending the Energy Forum CNBC at Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
The minister, however, could not confirm the delivery schedule and arrival for the purchased oil, but said it was a government-to-government deal between Indonesia and Russia.
Lemigas is authorized to import oil under Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 26 of 2026 concerning crude oil, fuel, and LPG procurement for energy resilience.
Previously, the Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Yuliot Tanjung, explained that so far, oil import is available only through permitted businesses, including state-owned enterprises such as PT Pertamina (Persero) and private companies.
"Under this regulation, Lemigas can conduct imports. Therefore, we will optimize the use of the existing BLUs, including Lemigas," said Yuliot, on Friday, May 29, 2026.
The plan to import oil from Russia first surfaced in mid-April 2026 as a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Moscow. During the visit, Prabowo met with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on April 13, 2026, and discussed energy cooperation, including crude oil supply.
In addition to crude oil, the government is considering importing LPG from Russia. Bahlil explained that the current national LPG demand is around 8.6 million tons per year, while domestic production is only about 2 million tons per year. The gap between demand and production makes imports an unavoidable step.
The need for LPG is also expected to continue increasing with the operation of several new petrochemical facilities, including a factory owned by Lotte Chemical, which requires about 1.6 million tons of LPG per year.
Therefore, Bahlil said, the government continues to seek additional energy supplies from various sources, including Russia, without specifying the volume of crude oil or LPG imports that will be brought in. He emphasized that the price will follow market mechanisms and the results of negotiations between the two countries.
Read: Which Countries Depend on Middle East Oil the Most?
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Which Countries Depend on Middle East Oil the Most?
2 hari lalu
According to IEA World Energy Statistics, smaller economies and East Asia nations dominate the list of countries that depend on Middle East oil.
US Waives Iran Oil Sanctions as Nuclear Inspectors to Return
2 hari lalu
Iran pledges open transit through the Strait of Hormuz and agrees to admit IAEA inspectors amid talks in Switzerland.
Oil Nations on Edge in the Face of New Climate Coalition
6 hari lalu
Even amid an energy crunch, major economies resist firm fossil fuel phase-out timelines as producers worry about growing green alliances.
Trump Claims Iran Deal Spared Country From Years of Bombing
7 hari lalu
"But if we didn't do this deal, we could have dropped more bombs for another three weeks, two weeks, four weeks, two years," said Trump.
World Bank: Rich Indonesians Consume Most Fuel Subsidies
10 hari lalu
As rich Indonesians receive more than half of fuel subsidies, the World Bank outlines three steps the government must take to reform the system.
What the Palace Says About the Non-Subsidized Fuel Price Hike
12 hari lalu
PT Pertamina Patra Niaga raised the prices of non-subsidized fuel on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
Prabowo Summons Energy Minister Over Alternative Oil Supply Plan
13 hari lalu
Energy Minister Bahlil said the discussion also covered the government's push to strengthen energy resilience amid uncertain global conditions.
Indonesia Resumes Oil and Gas Operations in Venezuela
13 hari lalu
Pertamina's Venezuelan assets have resumed full operations, helping Indonesia secure alternative oil supplies amid energy challenges.
Indonesia Turns to African Oil as Energy Challenges Mount
14 hari lalu
Indonesia is optimizing African oil supplies to mitigate energy risks caused by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Crude Oil Futures Prices Plunge 5%
30 hari lalu
Crude oil futures fell about 5 percent as markets reacted to progress in U.S.-Iran peace talks.
