Bahlil: Indonesia Has Discovered New Oil Sources Besides the Middle East

JAKARTA - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has revealed that Indonesia has identified new sources of crude oil beyond the Middle East.

This diversification of oil sources is a strategy to secure the national energy supply amid the intensifying Middle East conflict between the United States (US) and Israel against Iran.

However, Bahlil declined to disclose which countries are the new oil sources for Indonesia.

He explained that approximately 20 per cent of Indonesia’s total crude oil imports have previously come from the Middle East region.

The remainder is usually supplied from other countries, such as Angola in Africa, the US, and Brazil.

With the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the government has decided to redirect all imports from the Middle East to other countries.

Thus, it is assured to be safe in meeting the needs of the public.

“So our fuel stocks, God willing, are in a safe condition, meeting the minimum standards,” he said.

The government has also assured that there will be no implementation of restrictions on fuel purchases, particularly subsidised ones.

Bahlil guaranteed that the prices of subsidised fuels will remain the same.

According to him, this policy is taken considering the condition of the public, especially low-income groups, to keep them protected.

Bahlil said this is in line with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto, who emphasises the importance of safeguarding the interests of the people.

“The President always tells us that we must work carefully, paying attention to the interests of our brothers and sisters, the small people, our society who lack capabilities,” he said.