When Can Pertamina's Tanker Ships Cross the Strait of Hormuz? Bahlil's Explanation
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has assured that the Indonesian government is maintaining intensive communications with the Iranian government to facilitate the exit of two Pertamina tanker ships from the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, other countries such as Malaysia have already received approval for their ships to cross the strait.
“It is indeed not easy for us to make efforts to get our ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. However, we continue to build communications,” said Bahlil when met at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Friday (27/3/2026).
PT Pertamina (Persero) had previously confirmed the safety of the crew of the tanker ships owned by PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) that remain in the Strait of Hormuz, amid geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States (US). On the other hand, on Wednesday (4/3/2026), Bahlil also assured that the entrapment of the two ships in the Strait of Hormuz does not disrupt Indonesia’s energy security because Indonesia will soon seek alternative energy sources in the United States.
Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Muhammad Baron, on Tuesday (3/3/2026), stated that a total of four related ships are involved, but the other two are outside the Strait of Hormuz. Baron mentioned that the crude oil cargo originating from the Middle East currently accounts for around 19 percent of Indonesia’s total crude oil imports.
According to him, Pertamina has prepared distribution schemes through regular, alternative, and emergency systems to maintain national energy resilience.
Separately, on Friday (27/3), the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) confirmed that the Iranian government has responded positively to Indonesia’s request for the two Pertamina tanker ships still held in the Strait of Hormuz to pass safely.
According to the Spokesperson of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, they, along with the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, have been coordinating intensively with all relevant parties in Iran since the beginning for the safety of the tanker ships.
Following the positive response from Tehran, follow-up steps have been carried out by the relevant parties on technical and operational aspects, said Nabyl, although no definite time has been given as to when the tanker ships can exit the Strait of Hormuz.
“In its development, there has been a positive response from the Iranian side,” said Nabyl on Friday (27/3/2026).
Following the positive response conveyed by Tehran, follow-up steps have been implemented by the relevant parties on technical and operational aspects, said Nabyl, although no definite time has been given as to when the tanker ships can exit the Strait of Hormuz.