Indonesia has initiated its initial oil imports from Russia as part of a government strategy to bring in 150 million barrels, stated Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
“We have carried out the first stage and ordered it through Lemigas,” Lahadalia said after opening the 2026 Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit & Exhibition in Jakarta.
Indonesia's reliance on oil continues, making sufficient domestic fuel supplies crucial, he stated, noting that imports will persist as long as they meet regulations, regardless of their source.
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"Other countries must not interfere with national sovereignty." “We still require oil,” the minister stated.
Under the guidance of President Prabowo Subianto and Presidential Regulation No. 26 of 2026, Lahadalia instructed Lemigas to source oil from Russia. The regulation oversees the acquisition of crude oil, fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas to bolster national energy security, as stated by the minister.
Lahadalia stated that designating Lemigas to manage energy imports aims to reduce the supply chain and facilitate government-to-government procurement agreements. Article 4 of the regulation permits public-service agencies in the energy field to bring in imports via cooperation agreements established between governments or with foreign suppliers.
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Article 5 permits public-service agencies and state oil firm Pertamina to import during emergencies, even if prices differ according to volume, product category, source, and delivery schedule. Such emergencies should be identified by the minister in charge of oil and gas matters, who is presently the energy and mineral resources minister, according to the regulation.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has announced that the agreement for importing crude oil from Russia has been finalized and is set for further progress.
The ESDM Ministry has indicated that Indonesia will persist in importing crude oil from Russia, despite the reopening of the shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz amidst reduced tensions in the Middle East.
He continued, "We already have a G2G (government-to-government) deal between President Putin and President Prabowo, and I have also communicated with the Russian Energy Minister."
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This commitment involves importing 150 million barrels of oil from Russia, to be executed progressively by the end of 2026, following President Prabowo Subianto’s trip to Russia last April.
Conversely, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergey Tolchenov stated that the Indonesian Government has not provided any specific requests concerning oil purchases or collaboration on nuclear power plant (PLTN) development with Russia.
Tolchenov stated that his team requires more detailed information from the Indonesian government and companies, including the type of oil needed, the quantity of oil, the port to be utilized, and the method of payment.