Minister Bahlil: Diesel stocks secure as Indonesia halts imports

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that diesel stocks in Indonesia are secure, as the country has stopped importing diesel fuel (BBM) since early 2026. “We must assure the Indonesian people that our diesel, insyaallah, is no longer imported, so it’s clear (secure),” Bahlil said during an inspection in Central Java, monitored online from the Ministry of ESDM in Jakarta on Thursday. The government’s decision to halt diesel imports was driven by the commissioning of the major Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project at Pertamina’s Balikpapan Refinery. President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the refinery’s capacity expansion to 360,000 barrels per day, the largest in the country. For petrol, Indonesia still imports 50%, with the remaining 50% sourced domestically. Regarding the 50% imported petrol, Bahlil stated that Indonesia is seeking alternatives, including alternative countries for importing crude oil supplies. Based on previous statements, several countries serving as alternatives for Indonesia’s oil imports include Angola, Brazil, the United States, and Russia.