Indonesia could halt energy exports to countries that fail to show mutual respect, Coordinating
Indonesia could halt energy exports to countries that fail to show mutual respect, Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia warned on Oct. 22, 2026. The warning follows comments a day earlier suggesting Jakarta might not renew natural gas export contracts with neighboring nations to prioritize domestic survival needs.
Speaking in Jakarta at an event marking the commissioning of gas production facilities, Bahlil said he would review current agreements with foreign buyers who do not treat Indonesia as an equal. He did not name any specific country during his remarks.
Evaluating Export Agreements Under National Pressure
Bahlil’s stance stems from a directive by President Prabowo Subianto, who urged the nation to safeguard its natural resources and prioritize domestic interests amid challenging global circumstances.
Elaborating on the administration’s posture, Bahlil issued a sharp critique of foreign partners. He stated, “Don’t come begging when you need something, but when there is another issue that can actually be discussed, behave like a relative who has no manners. This is what we do not want.” He added that Jakarta remains open to energy agreements with nations that treat it with mutual respect, regardless of existing contracts.
The policy shift follows Bahlil’s remarks on Oct. 21 after a plenary cabinet meeting at the State Palace, marking the second administration anniversary of Prabowo’s presidency. The ministerial review arrives alongside regional pressures, including a recent push by the Malaysian parliament for ASEAN to hold parties accountable for transboundary haze, and unconfirmed suspicions regarding capital market index classifications.
Japan and China Lead Indonesia Natural Gas Imports
Data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency highlights the scale of the trade under review. In 2025, Indonesia exported natural gas to several regional partners. Japan was the leading destination, receiving about 3.8 million tonnes, closely followed by China with 3.79 million tonnes, and Singapore with 3.22 million tonnes. South Korea imported 2.27 million tonnes, while Thailand and the Philippines received approximately 291,000 tonnes and 138,000 tonnes, respectively.
For Singapore, the stakes are tied to existing infrastructure timelines. Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong told Parliament in September 2025 that Indonesia remains one of the Republic’s primary sources of natural gas, with current import contracts set to expire at the end of 2028.
Meanwhile, broader cross-border energy negotiations face friction. Singapore’s Energy Market Authority has granted conditional licenses to six Indonesian electricity import projects totaling 3 gigawatts, aiming for 3.4 gigawatts of cross-border capacity by 2035. However, discussions over low-carbon electricity exports have stalled over pricing disagreements.