Indonesia Need Not Panic, Russia Ready to Supply Fuel
Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov stated that Moscow is opening opportunities for Pertamina to buy oil from his country as global oil prices rise due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our President has repeatedly stated, especially to friendly countries, that we are ready to cooperate in the oil and gas sector if they need something,” said Ambassador Tolchenov when met in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
Tolchenov conveyed that as an ambassador, he has not yet received direct requests from Pertamina or the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
However, he stated that the Russian Embassy is open to discussing the purchase of oil from Russia.
“So, please contact us, convey your needs, and we will discuss how it can be realised,” he added.
The Russian diplomat emphasised that purchasing oil from Moscow is not only open to friendly countries but also to unfriendly ones, such as countries in Western Europe.
“If they have an interest and are ready to cooperate based on long-term contracts, we are also willing to supply and sell oil and gas to them. This is fundamentally a matter of need and willingness to cooperate with Russia. We never refuse anyone,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia affirmed that Indonesia is open to importing oil from various countries, including Russia, as part of a strategy to diversify energy sources amid geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East region.
According to Bahlil, the government does not limit import sources to just one country.
“All countries are possible. What is important for us now is how to have the goods, and second, the price is competitive. That is the most important,” he said at the Ministry of ESDM office, Jakarta, on Tuesday (17/3).
He explained that importing oil from Russia is now possible after the United States reopened access to purchases of oil from that country, which was previously subject to sanctions.
On 28 February, the United States and Israel launched attacks on several targets in Iran, including in the capital Tehran, causing damage and casualties among civilians. Iran then responded by launching attacks on Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.
The escalation around Iran has led to a de facto blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas from Persian Gulf countries to global markets. This situation has also affected oil export and production levels in the region, thereby driving up fuel prices in most countries around the world.