The Case Behind the Rp 900 Billion Crude Oil Auction
The Asset Recovery Agency (BPA) of the Attorney General’s Office has recorded a fantastic sales figure during the BPA Fair 2026. Assets consisting of 1.2 million barrels of crude oil were auctioned for a price of Rp 900 billion.
The Head of the Attorney General’s Office BPA, Kuntadi, revealed that the crude oil represents the highest-value asset in the BPA Fair 2026. The auction price even exceeded the established reserve price.
“The most fantastic item we sold was certainly the crude oil. We know that for the crude oil sold during the pre-event stage, the reserve price was around Rp 800 billion, but it sold for approximately Rp 900 billion,” Kuntadi told reporters at the BPA Fair 2026 on Monday (18/5/2026).
Kuntadi explained that the 1,245,166.9 (1.2 million) barrels of crude oil were seized assets from a general criminal case involving environmental pollution. The 1.2 million barrels of crude oil originated from an environmental pollution case involving the Iranian tanker MT Arman 114 in the North Natuna Sea. The captain of the supertanker was also sentenced to a fine of Rp 5 billion.
The tanker carrying the crude oil was previously auctioned as a single package for Rp 1.1 trillion, but failed to find a buyer. After being separated, the crude oil was sold to Pertamina Patra Niaga for Rp 900 billion. Meanwhile, the MT Arman 114 tanker has not yet been sold at auction. Kuntadi noted that the reserve price for the tanker is approximately Rp 200 billion.
Background of the Case
Previously, the Director General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Rasio Ridho Sani, explained that the case began following a patrol by the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla). At the time, Bakamla radar detected two tankers positioned closely together.
“The case began with the findings of the KN Marore 322 Patrol Officers of Bakamla RI, who observed on radar two tankers touching and having turned off their AIS (Automatic Identification System). Subsequently, the Bakamla RI team approached and observed the MT Arman 114, flying the Iranian flag, carrying light crude oil, and the MT Tinos, suspected of conducting illegal ship-to-ship activities,” said Rasio Ridho Sani during a press conference at KLHK on Friday (12/7/2024).
Observations via drone revealed a pipe connection between the two vessels and an oil spill from the MT Arman 114. Officers on patrol subsequently took samples of the oil-contaminated seawater for testing. The Bakamla team conducted the sampling of the seawater contaminated by the oil spill, followed by an inspection of the MT Arman 114 with assistance from the Malaysian Coast Guard. In short, the Iranian-flagged supertanker was accused of polluting the ocean due to an oil spill. It was noted that the supertanker was carrying 272,569 metric tons of light crude oil (LCO), valued at approximately Rp 4.6 trillion.