Indonesia to Import Russian Crude Oil to Strengthen Energy Security

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia is set to receive crude oil from Russia in the near future as part of its efforts to safeguard national energy supply amid evolving global geopolitical dynamics, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Saturday.

The initiative forms part of Indonesia’s broader commitment to import up to 150 million barrels of oil from Russia, with shipments scheduled to be carried out gradually through the end of 2026.

Speaking in Jakarta, Lahadalia underscored that the government’s top priority is ensuring the availability of all types of fuel to meet the needs of both the public and industrial sectors.

“For me, the most important thing is that all our stocks are available. And for Russian crude oil, it will be arriving soon,” he said.

The minister, however, did not disclose details regarding the volume of the initial shipment or the domestic refineries designated to process the crude oil.

He emphasized that amid ongoing global uncertainty, the government is focused on maintaining sufficient supplies of various fuel types, including diesel and gasoline with different octane levels.

According to Lahadalia, in the current geopolitical climate, ensuring energy supply security remains a key national priority, outweighing other policy considerations.

“In a situation like this, the country must ensure the availability of all types of fuel. That is far more important,” he added.

Regarding the import mechanism and pricing, the minister noted that transactions for Russian crude oil will be conducted on a business-to-business basis.

In addition to crude oil imports, the government is also exploring the possibility of sourcing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia, although discussions on the matter are still ongoing.

Lahadalia assured that Indonesia’s current LPG reserves remain above the minimum required levels, providing a buffer against potential supply disruptions.