RT reported that the Indonesian Ministry of Energy said the agreement was made to diversify supply sources, as the international oil market is undergoing many fluctuations.
Previously, Indonesia - a BRICS member - only imported Russian oil in limited, unregular volumes, while about 1/4 of its oil demand depended on sources from the Middle East through the Hormuz Strait - an area currently facing disruption risks.
The agreement was reached after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Kremlin on April 13, along with subsequent working sessions between the energy ministers of the two countries Sergey Tsivilev and Bahlil Lahadalia.
Not only stopping at crude oil and LPG, Indonesia said it is aiming to expand long-term cooperation with Russia in energy sectors, including nuclear power and mining.
We have achieved positive results, allowing to increase crude oil reserves, while opening up more stable access to LPG sources," Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said after the meeting. LPG is a liquefied gas mixture of propane and butane - currently widely used in cooking, heating and transportation.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of major Russian energy corporations such as Rosneft, Ruschem, Zarubezhneft and Lukoil, showing the scale and importance of the agreement.
According to experts, Russian oil can be transported from Far Eastern ports through the South China Sea and the Malacca Strait - a familiar maritime route serving the needs of China and many Asian customers.
In recent years, Russia has stepped up redirecting energy exports to Asia, after Western sanctions significantly restricted access to traditional markets.
Indonesia joined BRICS in 2025, becoming the first ASEAN country to join the bloc. This move is assessed as helping Jakarta strengthen relations with Moscow and emerging economies, while expanding cooperation space outside the Western system.
