JAKARTA, Oct 26 — Indonesia's Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said he will travel abroad starting this week, including to China and India, to secure more gasoline supplies.
Speaking to the media today, he said that Jakarta 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.
Under a recent regulation, a public service agency is permitted to import crude oil, fuels and liquid petroleum gas when the imports are based on agreements made by the Indonesian government with foreign countries or suppliers.
"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," Bahlil said.
He did not elaborate on how much Indonesia will import from the alternative sources.
Warlier this month, Indonesia's Ombudsman said 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 1km in several locations.
