Indonesia Energy Minister Visit Targets China, India Fuel
Indonesia’s Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia plans to travel to China and India to secure additional gasoline supplies as Middle East tensions drive Jakarta to…
Indonesia is looking for fuel supplies beyond its usual sources as tensions in the Middle East put pressure on availability. Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said he would travel to China and India to secure additional gasoline, with the trip due to begin this week.
The government also plans to task state agency Lemigas with importing fuel and supplying state-owned Pertamina, bypassing lengthy tender procedures. The move follows reported fuel disruptions and queues of around 1 km in several provinces, according to the Ombudsman.
It is a direct response. For motorists and businesses facing interruptions, the effort is intended to add supply options while the government seeks alternative agreements.
Indonesia energy minister visit seeks alternative supply
Bahlil said on Monday that he would travel abroad starting this week, including to China and India. The China-Global South Project reported the planned visits and linked them to Jakarta’s effort to secure gasoline as Middle East tensions prompt a search for alternative sources.
The report did not provide details on the travel schedule, the suppliers Indonesia may approach, or the volume of gasoline sought. It also did not say whether agreements have already been reached.
The reported fuel disruptions give the planned outreach a domestic urgency. Queues stretching around 1 km in several provinces point to difficulties for people trying to obtain fuel, although the report did not specify which provinces were affected or how long the disruptions lasted.
Lemigas would have a separate role in the plan: import fuel and supply Pertamina. The source said this process would bypass lengthy tender procedures, but did not describe the purchasing terms or how quickly shipments could arrive.
Fuel disruptions prompt faster procurement plan
The reported approach combines overseas outreach with a change in how fuel could be procured. China and India are the destinations named for Bahlil’s trip, while Lemigas is identified as the state agency tasked with importing and supplying fuel to Pertamina.
For consumers, the practical question is whether those steps can ease local supply interruptions. The report documents queues and disruptions but gives no forecast for when conditions might improve, nor does it identify a specific change to retail fuel prices.
The China-Global South Project also noted the wider context: tensions in the Middle East have led Jakarta to seek alternative sources. It did not provide further detail on the effect of those tensions on Indonesia’s gasoline supply or identify other countries involved in potential supply agreements.
The planned travel and procurement arrangement remain the concrete measures described in the report. Bahlil’s trip is due to start this week, while the government’s stated plan assigns Lemigas the task of importing fuel for Pertamina.
Source: chinaglobalsouth.com
