JAKARTA — Indonesia's energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday (Oct 26) that he will travel abroad starting from this week, including to China and India, in a bid to secure more gasoline supplies.
Indonesia will increase energy imports through the state agency Lemigas, which will then supply to state energy firm Pertamina, in an effort to circumvent the lengthy process of procurement through tenders, Bahlil told reporters.
Under a recent regulation, a public service agency is permitted to import crude oil, fuels and LPG when the imports are based on agreements made by the Indonesian government with foreign countries or suppliers, Bahlil said.
"We cannot predict how long the tension in the Middle East will go on for, so President Prabowo has instructed us to find other alternatives for energy supply," he said.
He did not elaborate how much Indonesia will import from the alternative sources.
Indonesia's Ombudsman said earlier this month that fuel supply disruptions have been reported across several provinces, including Bali, North Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, West Papua, and West Kalimantan, with vehicle queues stretching to around 1 km in several locations.
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