Energy Minister confirms Russian oil import contract has been executed

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has confirmed that a contract to import crude oil from Russia has been executed and is ready for further development. “I have tried to check technically. But what I know is that the contract has been carried out by Lemigas, the Public Service Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources,” Bahlil said in Jakarta on Thursday. Regarding the volume of crude oil to be imported from Russia, he said there is potential for further expansion. “The volume could grow even more. But I will look at the contract again later,” Bahlil said. “We already have a government-to-government deal between President Putin and President Prabowo. And I have also communicated with the Russian Energy Minister,” he added. Previously, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources stated that Indonesia would continue importing crude oil from Russia, even though shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz have reopened amid de-escalating tensions in the Middle East. The move is part of realising a commitment to import 150 million barrels of oil from Russia, to be carried out in stages until the end of 2026, following up on President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Russia. Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergey Tolchenov said the Indonesian government has yet to submit a specific request regarding oil purchases and cooperation on nuclear power plant development with his country. “We also need more specific information from the Indonesian government and Indonesian companies: what type of oil they need, how much oil, which port will be used, and how payment will be made,” Tolchenov said in Jakarta on Wednesday.