Jakarta. State energy company Pertamina said rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are affecting the global energy supply chain, including crude oil supplies that Indonesia partly relies on through imports, prompting the firm to activate mitigation strategies to safeguard domestic energy security.

Pertamina’s Vice President for Corporate Communication, Muhammad Baron, said the company has prepared a series of measures to ensure oil stocks remain secure, ranging from regular procurement mechanisms to alternative sourcing and emergency contingency plans.

“These steps are part of our strategy to ensure domestic energy resilience remains intact,” Baron said at Pertamina’s head office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Pertamina did not explicitly confirm a full halt of crude imports from the Middle East despite the escalating tensions. However, the company emphasized that alternative systems and emergency measures have been put in place as part of supply risk mitigation.

Reports have also emerged that Pertamina is exploring opportunities to import crude oil from other countries, including Singapore, as an alternative source. Responding to the speculation, the management said it continues to intensively coordinate with various stakeholders, including the government.

“We always coordinate with relevant parties, including the government, to meet national energy needs,” Baron said.

Regarding the possible execution of redirecting imports to the United States, Pertamina said the process is still ongoing and further details cannot yet be disclosed.

Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, the company assured that domestic fuel supply remains stable. “For the implementation of imports, as we have conveyed, the process is currently underway. We continue to prioritize good governance,” Baron concluded.

Add as a preferred source on Google +