Bahlil assures Indonesia will profit even as it imports oil from the US amid rising prices

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia says Indonesia will remain profitable even if it imports oil from the United States when prices rise amid the conflict between the United States and Israel with Iran.

Brent crude oil price (ICE) has touched USD 83 per barrel, higher than the average Brent price in January 2026 of USD 64 per barrel.

“Prices will certainly be advantageous before any transaction (oil purchases from the US) there is negotiation. It will be profitable,” Bahlil said when met after an iftar event at the Ministry of ESDM, Jakarta, Wednesday night (4/3).

Bahlil also believes Pertamina, as a state-owned enterprise (BUMN), which shifted oil imports from the Middle East to the United States also has the capacity to negotiate and seek better oil prices.

He believes Singapore has alternative suppliers of crude oil like Indonesia, so fuel supplies imported from Singapore remain stable. Bahlil stressed that the Middle East is not the only source of crude oil in the world.

“There’s Africa (Angola), Brazil. Some of them (Singapore) also take from Malaysia, some can take from America,” Bahlil said.

Indonesia’s energy resilience has been in the public spotlight amid the war between the United States and Israel with Iran.