Bahlil: Indonesia Seeks New Global Oil Import Sources Due to Middle East Conflict

JAKARTA - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that the government will seek oil import sources from various countries to maintain domestic energy supplies. This step follows instructions from President Prabowo Subianto to him amid the Middle East conflict, which has disrupted global oil supplies. “The President instructed me and the team last night to immediately seek our oil supplies from nearly all countries,” Bahlil said during a working visit in Karanganyar, Central Java, on Thursday (26/3/2026). Therefore, the government needs to implement mitigation measures if the war in the Middle East lasts longer. “We must realise that no one can predict this geopolitical situation,” he added. Nevertheless, Bahlil assured that the current national energy supply is secure, including for petrol and diesel fuels as well as LPG. Currently, around 50 percent of petrol is still supplied from imports, and 70 percent for LPG. Thus, for products that are still imported, the government will seek sources other than from the Middle East. “But I assure you, insha’Allah, we are in a good condition for the next few days,” Bahlil said.