(Jakarta, 10th) Indonesia announced plans to gradually reduce fuel imports from Singapore over the next six months and shift procurement to the Middle East and the United States, in order to defend national strategic sovereignty and gain more leverage in tariff negotiations with the U.S.
According to The Jakarta Post, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahliar stated on Thursday (May 8th): "I have decided that in the next six months, we will no longer import oil from Singapore, only from the Middle East." He considers importing fuel from Singapore, which does not have crude oil resources, to be a "shameful strategy" and criticized the current situation where more than half of Indonesia's fuel comes from Singapore. He bluntly asked, "Are we uneducated or what? I'm also very confused."
The following day (9th), Bahliar further stated that Indonesia is planning to shift about 60% of its fuel imports to be supplied by the U.S., as part of a comprehensive proposal in negotiations with Washington on tariffs. He revealed that currently, only 4% of Indonesia's crude oil imports come from the U.S., with a future goal to increase this proportion tenfold, raising total imports to $10 billion.
He emphasized that this move is not just about price, but also involves geopolitical balance. "We have to maintain a balance with other countries," he said, adding that Indonesia will "eventually" reduce the amount of fuel imported from Singapore to zero.
In response to this statement, The Straits Times sought verification from relevant companies and official units in Singapore. As of press time, Shell Singapore declined to comment, while ExxonMobil, Sembcorp Industries, and Astar Chemicals and Energy Company have not responded. Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Economic Development Board have also not responded yet.
Meanwhile, Thailand and Vietnam are also taking similar measures to seek deeper energy cooperation with the U.S. Thailand's Ministry of Energy stated it is exploring the possibility of participating in a $44 billion natural gas pipeline project in Alaska and considering importing 3 to 5 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually.
The Vietnamese side expressed its hope that domestic companies could significantly purchase high-value U.S. goods, especially in energy, to align with U.S. trade negotiations and avoid high tariffs. Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien also urged companies in various fields to "actively and proactively" leverage the potential of U.S.-Vietnam trade.
According to The Jakarta Post, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahliar stated on Thursday (May 8th): "I have decided that in the next six months, we will no longer import oil from Singapore, only from the Middle East." He considers importing fuel from Singapore, which does not have crude oil resources, to be a "shameful strategy" and criticized the current situation where more than half of Indonesia's fuel comes from Singapore. He bluntly asked, "Are we uneducated or what? I'm also very confused."
The following day (9th), Bahliar further stated that Indonesia is planning to shift about 60% of its fuel imports to be supplied by the U.S., as part of a comprehensive proposal in negotiations with Washington on tariffs. He revealed that currently, only 4% of Indonesia's crude oil imports come from the U.S., with a future goal to increase this proportion tenfold, raising total imports to $10 billion.
He emphasized that this move is not just about price, but also involves geopolitical balance. "We have to maintain a balance with other countries," he said, adding that Indonesia will "eventually" reduce the amount of fuel imported from Singapore to zero.
In response to this statement, The Straits Times sought verification from relevant companies and official units in Singapore. As of press time, Shell Singapore declined to comment, while ExxonMobil, Sembcorp Industries, and Astar Chemicals and Energy Company have not responded. Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Economic Development Board have also not responded yet.
Meanwhile, Thailand and Vietnam are also taking similar measures to seek deeper energy cooperation with the U.S. Thailand's Ministry of Energy stated it is exploring the possibility of participating in a $44 billion natural gas pipeline project in Alaska and considering importing 3 to 5 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually.
The Vietnamese side expressed its hope that domestic companies could significantly purchase high-value U.S. goods, especially in energy, to align with U.S. trade negotiations and avoid high tariffs. Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien also urged companies in various fields to "actively and proactively" leverage the potential of U.S.-Vietnam trade.