Thai-Malaysian Tanker Already Passed Through Strait of Hormuz, What About Indonesia?

A Chinese, Thai, and Malaysian oil tanker has been permitted by Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. So, what about Indonesia’s tanker?

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Oil tankers owned by China, Thailand, and Malaysia have been allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. So, what is the fate of Indonesia’s tanker?

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia acknowledged that efforts to evacuate Indonesia’s oil cargo ship from the Strait of Hormuz face significant challenges. The government is continuing intensive communications with relevant parties to find a solution.

“We are still communicating continuously. It is indeed not easy for us to figure out how to get our ship out of the Strait of Hormuz. But we are building ongoing communications,” Bahlil stated when met at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Jakarta, on Friday (27/3/2026).

It should be noted that around 20% of Indonesia’s oil imports come from the Middle East, which must be shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.

As a precaution, the Indonesian government is seeking oil supply sources from other countries to replace supplies previously sent through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our crude imports from the Middle East are 20%. And now we have found new crude sources besides the Middle East. Please don’t ask where from. Needless to say, insya Allah, everything is in place,” Bahlil said.

As is known, four ships owned by PT Pertamina (Persero) were stranded in Middle Eastern waters when the Israel-US and Iran war broke out on 28 February 2026.

However, in mid-March 2026, two Pertamina tankers managed to exit the Middle East area, namely PIS Rinjani and PIS Paragon. Nevertheless, these two ships from PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) were not for serving Indonesia’s oil supply, but for third parties to other countries.

“Incidentally, those are for the non-captive market. So not for Pertamina. One is heading to Kenya and one to India,” said President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Simon Aloysius Mantiri during the National ESDM Sector Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2026 Press Conference, at the BPH Migas Office, on Thursday (12/3/2026).

Meanwhile, the other two Pertamina ships remain in the gulf area. The two ships still detained are VLCC Pertamina Pride and Gamsunoro.

VLCC Pertamina Pride is for Indonesia’s domestic market, while Gamsunoro is to serve third parties, not for Indonesia’s market.

Pertamina continues to coordinate with various parties, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) and others.

“We are also pushing so that, of course, together the situation there improves. So that our cargoes can then operate and pass through that location safely,” Simon emphasised.