Indonesia conducts negotiations to secure release of two Pertamina ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said the government is currently pursuing negotiations to secure the release of two tanker ships belonging to PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) that remain in the Strait of Hormuz. ‘There are two cargos stranded in the Strait of Hormuz owned by Pertamina. The ships are now berthed to seek a safer location, while we conduct negotiations,’ said Bahlil when met after the breaking fast gathering at the Ministry of ESDM, Jakarta, Wednesday night (4/3). Pertamina has also confirmed the safety of the crew amid the ongoing war between the United States-Israel and Iran in the Middle East. On that occasion, Bahlil conveyed that the two tanker ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz do not disrupt Indonesia’s energy resilience, because Indonesia is quickly seeking energy alternatives in the United States. The search for alternatives runs parallel with the government’s efforts to release the two tanker ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported that the Strait of Hormuz has been ‘effectively’ closed following the US-Israel attack. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one fifth of the world’s oil trade as well as large volumes of LNG exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.