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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

Indonesia Begins Russian Oil Imports Amid Sanctions Risk

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesia has begun importing Russian crude oil, with the first shipment arriving in East Kalimantan.
  • The imported oil, totaling 740,388 barrels, is for the Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technology (Lemigas).
  • The imports are politically sensitive due to international sanctions against Russia, though Indonesia maintains it needs the oil.

Indonesia's plan to unload Russian crude oil at the Lawe-Lawe Terminal in East Kalimantan faced delays. The tanker MV Sierra, carrying Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) crude from Russia, was initially expected to arrive and complete unloading by late June 2026, but its arrival was pushed to June 28 and departure on June 30.

The shipment of 740,388 barrels of ESPO crude was imported by the Research and Development Center for Oil and Gas Technology (Lemigas), a public service agency under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. This move marks a significant step for Indonesia into importing Russian oil.

According to records in the InaPortnet system, the vessel arrived only on June 28 and departed again on June 30.

— Deni Wisnu AnggoroHead of Public Relations at the Balikpapan Class I Harbormaster and Port Authority Office, commenting on the tanker's arrival and departure dates.

However, the imports are politically sensitive. Russia faces economic sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and other nations due to its actions in Ukraine. These sanctions can extend to countries and companies maintaining trade relations with Russia. Despite these concerns, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia emphasized Indonesia's ongoing need for oil.

Indonesia remains in need of oil.

— Bahlil LahadaliaEnergy and Mineral Resources Minister, stressing the country's oil requirements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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