Two vessels stranded in the Hormuz Strait, Pertamina's plan to meet Indonesia's fuel needs

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - PT Pertamina (Persero) says four Pertamina-owned oil vessels are in the Middle East, with two still trapped in the Hormuz Strait, a route blocked by Iran. In Pertamina’s records, 19% of Indonesia’s oil imports come from the Middle East. As a result, Pertamina is preparing alternatives to ensure domestic Bahan Bakar Minyak (BBM—fuel) supplies are met. Muhammad Baron, Vice President Corporate Communications, confirmed that crude oil cargoes from the Middle East account for around 19% of the total import value. ‘Around 19% and we are already distributing through regular alternative or emergency systems. So for national energy resilience Pertamina has communicated that system to meet national needs,’ Baron said at Grha Pertamia, on Wednesday (4/3/2026). Pertamina is coordinating with relevant parties to maintain national energy needs. ‘So the alternatives we are pursuing are ongoing because this has only been a few days. We will update the media on the readiness of these alternative processes,’ Baron asserted. The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said the government has prepared anticipatory steps in response to Hormuz’s closure. ‘Under the President’s directive, given the developments. Now Hormuz is closed due to the Israel-America-Iran conflict; this affects global energy,’ he told a press conference at the ESDM Ministry, Tuesday (3/3/2026). He noted that of Indonesia’s total crude imports, about 20-25% comes from the Middle East via Hormuz; the remainder is sourced from other regions including Africa, the United States, and Brazil. Accordingly, to anticipate potential supply shortages, the government plans to redirect some Middle East crude imports to the United States to avoid being caught by ongoing global dynamics. ‘This cannot be predicted when it will end. It could be fast or slow. We take the worst-case scenario now: some Middle East crude will be redirected to the United States to ensure availability,’ he said.