Luhut Reveals There Is Potential To Buy Oil From Russia Cheaper

Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that Indonesia's joining as members of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) alliance will expand market access, one of which is to get cheaper supplies of gas and crude oil.

"What are our advantages with BRICS, yes our market is bigger. Because this is a problem, if we are not careful with the problems that exist in China now, and also the problems in Europe where gas now comes from Russia at their stop, there will be an energy crisis problem in Europe," he said at a press conference, Thursday, January 9.

Luhut gave an example that Indonesia can get and access oil prices that are cheaper than Russia for joining as members of BRICS.

"(Buy oil to Russia) if we benefit this republic we buy. If there is a month, we buy it. As long as it benefits the Republic of Indonesia, we can discuss it with several other countries. If we can get cheaper 20 US dollars or 22 US dollars per barrel, why not? " he said.

However, Luhut emphasized, Indonesia will continue to respond carefully regarding this matter.

"Of course we are careful to see this carefully," he said.

Luhut explained that one of Indonesia's considerations for joining as a member of the BRICS alliance is the issue of potential geopolitical conflicts so that the trade war will take place in the future.

"So we really pay close attention to the combination of this problem. So one of the tasks of the DEN earlier provided input to the President in the decision-making process," he explained.

Luhut conveyed that Indonesia's joining as a member of the BRICS alliance shows that Indonesia's position as a sovereign and independent country does not side with one particular country.

"We are a sovereign country, a big country. I once wrote in South China Sea, I said Indonesia is too big to lead to any country. Indonesia is too big to side with one country. I mean at that time China and America," he said.