Pertamina Ensures Alternative Crude Oil Imports for Indonesia from Africa

Vice President of Corporate Communication at PT Pertamina (Persero), Muhammad Baron, stated that countries in Africa will serve as alternative sources of crude oil for Indonesia amid the geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East resulting from the war between Iran and the United States (US).

“Pertamina and the government are always seeking alternative energy resources, including from countries that we have already been importing from, such as those in Africa and others,” said Baron in Jakarta on Thursday, 16 April 2026.

He noted that this step is in line with statements from the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, regarding alternative crude oil sources while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed due to the war.

Baron conveyed that Pertamina is making every effort to ensure the availability of fuel oil (BBM) and LPG for the public and industry.

“We are continuously monitoring the global dynamics. We are doing this by coordinating intensively with the government, which is also seeking the best ways to ensure that LPG and BBM remain available to the entire public,” he said.

To maintain energy resilience in Indonesia, he continued, Pertamina is conducting a search for the best energy sources to provide to the public.

“We are exploring all sources and carrying out imports, not just from Africa,” he stated.

It is known that previously, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, mentioned that around 20 percent of Indonesia’s crude oil imports previously came from the Middle East.

The government has prepared alternative supplies from other countries in response to the geopolitical unrest in the Middle East, such as from Angola, Brazil, the United States, and Russia.

In mid-April 2026, Bahlil negotiated the purchase of crude oil and LPG from Russia during his meeting with Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev in Russia on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.