Indonesia Imports US$15 Billion in Energy from America; Bahlil: Not Increasing Imports, Just Shifting Sources
Jakarta — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has affirmed that the latest trade agreement between the Indonesian Government and the United States will not increase Indonesia’s overall energy import quota. The agreement is essentially a strategy to redirect energy supply sources to the United States.
Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia explained that domestic energy requirements such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), fuel, and crude oil remain heavily dependent on foreign supplies because domestic production remains insufficient. He assured that the measure purely shifts the country of origin of suppliers without enlarging the total volume of imports that has been ongoing.
“We are simply substituting. So the volume of imports remains the same, only the location of the source changes. Rest assured that the sovereignty of our nation remains protected; I would never sell out my own country,” Bahlil stated at the 28th anniversary celebration of KAMMI in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March 2026.
Under the agreement, Indonesia has committed to purchasing energy products from the United States valued at US$15 billion, equivalent to Rp 253.1 trillion (based on an exchange rate of Rp 16,879 per US dollar).
The commitment specifically includes LPG imports valued at US$3.5 billion, crude oil imports of US$4.5 billion, and refined petroleum products worth US$7 billion, adjusted according to domestic requirements.
“Our annual LPG requirement is 8.3 million tonnes, whilst our national production is 1.6 million tonnes, meaning we import 7 million tonnes annually. Secondly, fuel, and thirdly, crude oil — these are the items we agreed to purchase for US$15 billion whilst in America,” Bahlil added.
Regarding pricing, the government has guaranteed that purchases of energy commodities from the United States will follow the global market mechanism. Bahlil claimed that the prices obtained through this collaboration are competitive and do not burden the nation’s finances compared with suppliers from other regions.
“The prices for the three products valued at US$15 billion from America align with market prices. There is no difference whether sourcing from the Middle East or America. The prices are identical, and indeed, LPG from America is considerably cheaper than from other countries,” he explained.
The agreement is embodied in the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), finalised during a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and President Donald Trump in Washington DC last week. The government has ensured that all trade commitments remain prioritising national interests and domestic energy security.