Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto on Monday summoned Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to the Presidential Palace in Jakarta to discuss rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The strategic waterway, which accounts for roughly 30% of the world’s seaborne crude oil shipments, has become a flashpoint amid intensifying conflict triggered by a US-Israel strike on Tehran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly warned oil tankers that no vessel would be allowed to pass through the strait.

The geopolitical shock has pushed Brent crude — the international benchmark — to $82 per barrel, a 14-month high, raising concerns over higher import costs for energy-dependent economies such as Indonesia.

“This [meeting] relates to the latest geopolitical developments, including Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This is part of our anticipation regarding global oil supply. After all, we still import around 1 million barrels per day,” Bahlil told reporters after the meeting.

Despite the spike in global prices, Bahlil said Indonesia’s domestic fuel reserves remain sufficient for at least 20 days.

He added that the crisis has not yet significantly affected Indonesia’s energy subsidy program, though global prices could continue to adjust if tensions escalate further.

Senior minister Airlangga Hartarto acknowledged that the government had anticipated a jump in crude prices. To cushion the impact, he said state energy firm Pertamina would diversify supply sources away from the Middle East, particularly toward the United States.

Indonesia has already signed commercial agreements to increase US crude imports as part of a broader deal, Airlangga said.

“The government already has memoranda of understanding to secure supply from non-Middle Eastern countries. Pertamina has signed MoUs with American energy firms Chevron and ExxonMobil,” Airlangga said.

“So yes, prices will rise, but similar spikes occurred when the Ukraine war broke out. Our American energy supplies will increase, and OPEC+ is also planning to raise production.”

When asked whether Indonesia was considering importing Russian oil, Airlangga gave a cautious response.

“We will monitor what is available and from which country we can import,” he said.

Bahlil said he would convene a meeting with the National Energy Council on Tuesday to discuss mitigation measures and present a comprehensive assessment of potential supply disruptions.

“After that, I will convey the results of the analysis and study,” he said.

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