Implementation of Oil Imports from Russia Targeted for This Month
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has targeted the realisation of crude oil imports from Russia to take place this month. The government is currently finalising technical details, including the purchase volume.
“If for crude, possibly this month,” Bahlil said at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office in Jakarta on Friday, 17 April 2026.
In addition to crude oil, the government is also preparing imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia. Bahlil stated that discussions regarding the LPG volume are ongoing and have not yet reached a final decision.
He added that the import plan from Russia will not reduce energy imports from the United States. The government, he said, will continue to maintain a balance of import sources to ensure national energy resilience.
Regarding prices, Bahlil assured that the transaction value will follow market mechanisms and the results of negotiations between the two countries. The high domestic LPG needs are one of the drivers of the import policy.
Bahlil explained that the national LPG requirement reaches around 8.6 million tonnes per year. Meanwhile, domestic production is only about 2 million tonnes. This gap makes imports an unavoidable step.
LPG needs are estimated to continue increasing with the operation of new petrochemical facilities, including the Lotte Chemical factory which requires around 1.6 million tonnes of LPG per year.
This situation is pushing the government to seek additional supplies from various sources. Nevertheless, Bahlil has not detailed the import volume of oil or LPG from Russia.
He emphasised that prices will follow market mechanisms and the negotiation results between the two countries. On the other hand, the government is also exploring opportunities for investment in building oil refineries and storage facilities jointly with Russia in Indonesia.
However, discussions on this cooperation still require several rounds of further negotiations before reaching a final agreement. “The finalisation awaits one or two more rounds with us, specifically regarding the refinery and storage. We will announce it later,” Bahlil said.