Decisions To Add Elpiji And BBM Imports From The US Are Still Waiting For Negotiated Results

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that the plan to import fuel oil (BBM) and LPG from the United States (US) is still waiting for the results of negotiations between the Indonesian government and the US.

According to him, negotiations are still being carried out so that the big decision on the quota to be imported cannot be decided.

"Yesterday my team and a team from the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy discussed again and because there has not been a definite decision on which points will be agreed upon. So until now we have not made an escalation of additional imports," Bahlil told the media crew at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, May 2.

He explained that as many as 59 percent of Indonesia's LPG imports came from the US while the imports of crude oil were only around 6 to 7 percent.

The decision regarding the additional quota will be confirmed based on the results of the negotiations

"Well, that's what we will improve later after a joint decision is made," explained Bahlil.

Just so you know, the Indonesian government has decided to import a number of commodities from Uncle Sam's country.

This is the government's strategy to balance the trade balance between Indonesia and the US, which is experiencing a surplus.

Previously, Bahlil said the government would increase oil and LPG imports from the United States (US) by 10 billion US dollars.

Bahlil said, the increase in volume of oil and LPG imports from the US will be carried out by shifting imports from other countries to the US.

"If we just move this, then the deficit in our trade balance with America will not happen again. We will balance the balance balance, this is what we will do," said Bahlil, April 15.