Two Indonesian Oil Tankers Trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, Bahlil Reveals Their Condition

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia has detailed the latest condition of two Pertamina (Persero) oil cargo ships that remain within the Strait of Hormuz, Iran.

The vessels are currently berthed to seek a safer location amid the geopolitical tensions involving Iran with Israel and the United States. “As we negotiate, we are pursuing better communication to find a solution,” Bahlil said at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, quoted on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

Bahlil said that, while the oil cargo ships await discharge, the government is seeking alternatives to replace imports that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Among them is sourcing oil from the United States.

“We are looking for alternatives in the United States to cover what is tied to these two cargoes,” Bahlil explained.

As is known from Pertamina and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, around 19% of Indonesia’s oil imports come from the Middle East or pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently closed by Iran.

Thus, by seeking alternatives to imports via the US, Bahlil assures that Indonesia’s oil supply will be secure. “I want to reassure all Indonesians that while geopolitics is not in good shape, the government is prepared in designing and preparing all alternatives to the availability of fuels and LPG, God willing, safe,” he said. “What cannot happen is a price increase that would affect subsidies. So we are calculating carefully.”

Pertamina Vice President for Corporate Communications Muhammad Baron confirmed that crude oil cargoes from the Middle East currently account for around 19% of total import value. “Around 19% and we have already implemented distribution through regular alternative and emergency systems. So for national energy resilience, Pertamina has communicated this system to meet domestic needs,” Baron said at Grha Pertamina, quoted on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

Pertamina is currently coordinating with relevant parties to continue meeting national energy needs.

“So the alternatives we are pursuing are in process because this is only a matter of a few days. We will later update the media on the readiness of these alternative processes,” Baron asserted.