Bahlil Talks About the Fate of Two Pertamina Ships in the Strait of Hormuz
JAKARTA — Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia explained the situation regarding two Pertamina-owned vessels currently traversing the Strait of Hormuz. The government is pursuing diplomatic channels to ensure the ships can exit the region safely.
The closure of the Strait occurred after rising tensions between Iran and the United States and Israel. This route is one of the world’s most vital energy supply points.
‘The first issue concerns the two ships from the Strait of Hormuz that are now returning. Pertamina has already discussed this; we are pursuing diplomacy to find a better way so they can be removed,’ Bahlil told a press conference at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jakarta, quoted on Wednesday (4 March 2026).
He spoke after chairing the inaugural meeting of the National Energy Council (DEN) at the President’s directive in Jakarta on Tuesday (3 March 2026). The roughly two-hour meeting discussed the impact of global dynamics on national energy stability.
Bahlil explained that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has a significant impact on world oil supply. About 20.1 million barrels of oil per day or nearly a fifth of global supply pass through this route.
‘In the Strait of Hormuz, about 20.1 million barrels per day flow through. So the global supply moving through there is around 20.1 million barrels per day,’ he said.
Indonesia’s dependence on this route is around 20–25 percent of total crude oil imports. The remainder comes from other regions such as Africa, including Angola, as well as the United States and Brazil.
‘Overall, our crude imports are 20 to 25 percent via the Strait of Hormuz; the rest does not come from there,’ said Bahlil.
The government is preparing mitigation scenarios should tensions persist for a long period. Twenty-five percent of crude purchases from the Middle East will be diverted to the United States to safeguard supply certainty.
For petroleum products, Indonesia is not dependent on Middle East supplies. Imports of gasoline with RON 90, 93, 95, and 98 come from other regions, including Southeast Asia, under long-term contracts.
As for LPG, domestic imports reach 7.3 million tonnes per year and are projected to rise to 7.8 million tonnes this year. About 70 percent of supply comes from the United States and 30 percent from the Middle East. The government is preparing additional transfer options to reduce the risk of supply chain disruption.