Indonesia has begun receiving crude oil shipments from Nigeria as part of a broader strategy to diversify energy imports and reduce exposure to geopolitical risks in the Middle East, officials said on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said initial deliveries of Nigerian crude have already arrived, marking a shift in Jakarta’s procurement strategy as tensions in the Middle East continue to threaten key global shipping routes.
The ministry’s Director-General of Oil and Gas, Laode Sulaeman, said Indonesia is prioritising crude supplies from regions and trade routes that avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil flows.
The move reflects growing concern among Asian importers about supply disruptions linked to escalating instability in the Middle East, which has pushed up freight costs and heightened energy market volatility.
Sulaeman said the diversification strategy is aimed at strengthening energy security by sourcing crude from alternative suppliers, including African producers such as Nigeria, which remains one of the world’s major oil exporters.
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The development also highlights shifting global oil trade patterns as buyers seek to reduce reliance on Middle Eastern supplies and secure more stable long-term contracts.
On Monday, Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the country is also preparing to begin importing Russian crude within weeks, further expanding its supplier base.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is heavily dependent on imported energy to meet domestic demand, making it particularly vulnerable to global price swings and supply disruptions.
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Officials have said the diversification push is part of a broader national energy security strategy aimed at ensuring stable fuel supplies for transportation, industry and power generation.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has been seeking to expand its crude export markets amid global competition and changing demand patterns, while also increasing domestic refining capacity through projects such as the Dangote refinery.
Energy analysts say Nigeria’s growing role in supplying Asian markets reflects its strategic importance in global oil trade, particularly as importers look for reliable alternatives outside the Middle East.
The latest shipments come as global energy markets remain volatile due to heightened geopolitical tensions, with concerns that prolonged instability could disrupt shipping lanes, increase insurance costs and drive further price fluctuations.
Indonesia’s diversification efforts underscore a wider trend among major oil-importing economies seeking to hedge against regional conflicts and secure more resilient energy supply chains through multi-source procurement strategies.
