Prabowo Reveals Impact of Middle East War on Fuel Prices: We Must Conserve

Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto has revealed the impact of the war in the Middle East between the United States-Israel and Iran, stating that one of the likely consequences for Indonesia will be increased fuel prices.

He disclosed this during a Full Cabinet Session at the State Palace on Friday, 13 March 2026.

“We face developments occurring globally in the European and Middle Eastern regions, and this certainly affects us because it will influence fuel prices. Fuel prices can also affect food prices,” said Prabowo.

Prabowo acknowledged that he has already secured Indonesia’s food security. He also said he has plans regarding fuel shortages resulting from the Middle East conflict.

“Alhamdulillah, we have already secured our fundamental food security. Regarding fuel, we actually already have plans, which we will accelerate,” he said.

For now, according to Prabowo, Indonesia must undertake fuel consumption savings. He continued that this represents a proactive step by the Indonesian government in facing the worst-case scenario from the Middle East conflict.

“But of course we must now take proactive measures, in the sense that we must reduce our fuel consumption. We cannot assume that whatever happens we are safe. Yes, we are grateful we are safe, but we have no effort to reduce our fuel consumption,” he concluded.

Previously, it was reported that PT Pertamina (Persero) Chief Executive Officer Simon Aloysius Mantiri stated that the company continues to seek alternative oil import sources as a result of the global energy distribution dynamics occurring in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran-US-Israel conflict.

Pertamina has reportedly prepared anticipatory measures including seeking alternative imports from the region to safeguard national energy stock resilience.

He emphasised that Indonesia’s energy supply sources do not come solely from the Middle East, but also from other regions such as Africa and the United States.

“For our anticipation, we are also diversifying sources. Our sources are not only from the Middle East; there are also from Africa, from the United States, and various other places,” he said.