Government introduces new oil import mechanism for Pertamina and BLUs

A Presidential Regulation No. 26 of 2026 has been issued, permitting state-owned enterprises like Pertamina and Public Service Agencies (BLUs) to directly conduct oil imports.

Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Yuliot Tanjung stated that the government has issued Presidential Regulation No. 26 of 2026 to regulate oil import mechanisms for Pertamina and Public Service Agencies (BLUs). ‘For the import mechanism, we have Perpres No. 26 of 2026, which allows state-owned enterprises such as Pertamina and BLUs to directly handle imports,’ Tanjung said during an interview at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Monday.

One key aspect of the regulation, he explained, is the differing import mechanisms based on the oil’s country of origin.

Tanjung added that Indonesia is open to importing oil from regions including the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Russia.

‘Differences in oil quality, delivery timelines, locations, and fluctuating prices can arise,’ Tanjung said.

‘Therefore, the government has established the import mechanism to prevent future legal issues,’ he added.

‘Both SOEs and BLUs are regulated under the new mechanism,’ Tanjung stated.

The Directorate General of Oil and Gas at the Energy Ministry, Laode Sulaeman, said the ministry is preparing additional regulations and import schemes for Russian crude oil.

According to Laode, the government needs to develop specific import regulations and schemes as Russian oil requires special handling.

As an SOE in the oil and gas sector, Pertamina operates using global bonds, meaning it must avoid actions that could breach these financial instruments.

Pertamina’s global bond commitments necessitate the Energy Ministry to develop an ideal import scheme for Russian oil.

‘Pertamina uses global bonds in its business operations, which must not be violated. Therefore, the scheme is currently being processed,’ Laode said.

This move is part of fulfilling a 150-million-barrel oil import commitment from Russia, to be implemented gradually until the end of 2026, following President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to the country.