TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced that the government has initiated the first phase of oil imports from Russia as part of its commitment to procure 150 million barrels of crude.
"We have executed the first phase. This was carried out by the government of the Republic of Indonesia and ordered through Lemigas (The Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technology)," Bahlil said after attending the opening of the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit & Exhibition 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Bahlil stressed that Indonesia remains in need of oil. As Energy Minister, he affirmed his commitment to securing national fuel reserves.
As long as the import process complies with regulations, Bahlil maintained that he will continue procuring oil regardless of the source.
"Other countries should not interfere with our national sovereignty. We need the oil," Bahlil said.
In line with President Prabowo Subianto's directive under Presidential Regulation No. 26/2026 on Crude Oil, Fuel Oil, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Procurement for National Energy Security, Bahlil instructed Lemigas to import oil from Russia.
The purpose of assigning Lemigas to handle energy imports, he added, is to cut through extended supply chains and streamline procurement. Moreover, it enables direct government-to-government (G-to-G) transactions.
This mechanism is set under Article 4 of Presidential Regulation No. 26/2026. Specifically, Article 4, Paragraph (3) stipulates that imports by Public Service Agencies (BLU) in the energy sector must be executed under cooperation agreements.
These agencies are permitted to procure imports through both intergovernmental agreements and direct deals between the central government and foreign suppliers.
Furthermore, Article 5 allows BLUs and state energy firm Pertamina to import in urgent situations, even if price variations exist based on volume, product grade, origin country, or delivery schedules agreed upon in the purchase contract.
Such urgent conditions are determined by the minister responsible for oil and gas affairs, which in this case is the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Read: Oil Supply Crunch to Boost Hydrogen Competitiveness, Says Minister
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