RI instability affects oil flows<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Increasing instability in Indonesia could
\ndisrupt the oil supply balance in Asia and disturb oil flows to
\nSingapore and the strategic Straits of Malacca, an industry
\npublication said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Singapore-based Energy Asia said events in Indonesia,
\nincluding a recent diplomatic row with the United States, deserve
\ncloser attention because of their potential impact on the
\nregion's oil supply.<\/p>\n
Indonesia produces 1.4 million barrels per day of crude
\ncondensates and accounts for between five and 10 percent of
\nJapanese crude imports.<\/p>\n
\"Just when Middle East tensions are on the rise again, there's
\nnow the added worry that Indonesia is ready to explode,
\npotentially disrupting domestic crude production,\" Energy Asia
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The possibility that Indonesia's problems could even disturb
\noil flows through Singapore and the all-important Straits of
\nMalacca must now be contemplated,\" it said.<\/p>\n
It noted that Indonesia is situated \"only a few kilometers
\n(miles) away from Singapore's 1.3 million barrels per day of
\nrefining capacity\" and was just off the Straits of Malacca,
\nthrough which all Middle East oil passes en route to Japan and
\nEast Asia.<\/p>\n
Separatist demands in the provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya are
\nthreatening to tear apart Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
A severe economic downturn and strong challenges against
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid, who has been accused of weak
\nleadership, have aggravated Indonesia's problems.<\/p>\n
Jakarta's latest row with the United States, during which the
\nAmerican embassy closed some services and Islamic militants
\nsearched for U.S. nationals in Irian Jaya, has added a new
\ndimension to Indonesia's troubles, the publication noted.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-instability-affects-oil-flows-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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