Indonesia Shifts LPG Imports from Middle East to US and Australia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - To safeguard national energy security, Indonesia has shifted its import sources for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and crude oil away from the Middle East, turning instead to the United States, Australia, and several African nations.

Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said the move was part of a broader government strategy to ensure supply reliability amid geopolitical tensions.

“LPG, in shaa Allah, remains secure. What we used to source from the Middle East has now been redirected to other countries, such as the U.S., Australia, and others,” Bahlil stated at the ESDM office in Jakarta on Monday, April 6, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

A similar approach is being applied to crude oil imports, which previously relied heavily on Middle Eastern suppliers. Indonesia now sources from Angola, Nigeria, and other African countries. “At present, our energy stock is still at the minimum national level, but in shaa Allah it’s safe,” he added.

Earlier, the government prepared long-term import contracts with multiple countries to stabilize energy supplies in the face of global market volatility. During a cabinet meeting at the Merdeka Palace on March 13, 2026, Minister Bahlil emphasized that diversifying import sources was a precautionary measure to keep LPG supplies secure despite shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Currently, Indonesia’s LPG imports are dominated by the United States, accounting for 70–75 percent, while around 20 percent comes from the Middle East and the remainder from countries including Australia.

Beyond LPG, the government has also assured that domestic diesel supply is stable, with national production now meeting demand. For crude oil, which previously relied on the Middle East for about 20 percent of imports, Indonesia has secured alternative long-term supply agreements with other nations to reinforce energy resilience. ***