Prabowo Reportedly Going to Russia, What Will He Discuss?

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto is rumored to be heading to Russia in the near future. In response to this, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that there were opportunities to discuss the sustainability of Rosneft Oil Company's investment in the Grass Root Refinery (GRR) or Tuban Refinery project.

"Oh, that's a cooperation between Russian companies. Rosneft is in Tuban. Rosneft and Pertamina are building a refinery there. Well, maybe that's one of the things we can follow up. But that's B2B," he told the media, Friday, April 10.

When asked about the possibility of buying crude from Russia, Bahlil did not give a definite answer. However, on a separate occasion, he had opened the possibility of buying crude from various countries, including Russia.

"We are from any country, the important thing is there," Bahlil told the media, Monday, April 6.

He added that to obtain fuel supplies, Indonesia must also compete with other countries. Although the tender process is underway, the availability of goods is not fully guaranteed. On the other hand, many sellers or traders have the potential to divert supplies to countries that dare to bid at higher prices.

"We still have to compete with other countries. Imagine now that people have just tendered the goods, but when someone else buys at a higher price, that person or trader or company that sells it can potentially sell to the person who bids higher," said Bahlil.