Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia has begun its first oil imports from Russia under a government plan to import 150 million barrels, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said Tuesday.“We have carried out the first stage and ordered it through Lemigas,” Lahadalia said after opening the 2026 Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit & Exhibition in Jakarta.Indonesia remains dependent on oil, making adequate domestic fuel supplies essential, he said, adding that imports will continue as long as they comply with regulations, regardless of origin.“National sovereignty cannot be interfered with by other countries. We still need oil,” the minister said.Under President Prabowo Subianto’s direction and Presidential Regulation No. 26 of 2026, Lahadalia ordered Lemigas to import oil from Russia.The regulation governs the procurement of crude oil, fuel and liquefied petroleum gas to support national energy security, according to the minister.Assigning Lemigas to oversee energy imports is intended to shorten the supply chain and enable government-to-government procurement arrangements, Lahadalia said.Article 4 of the regulation allows public-service agencies in the energy sector to import under cooperation agreements between governments or with overseas suppliers.Article 5 allows public-service agencies and state oil company Pertamina to import in urgent situations, even when prices vary based on volume, product type, origin and delivery time.Such emergencies must be determined by the minister responsible for oil and gas affairs, currently the energy and mineral resources minister, under the regulation.