Jakarta, ThedailyID — Indonesia may halt energy exports to countries that fail to respect the nation, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Bahlil said the government would prioritize domestic energy needs as part of efforts to strengthen national energy security. He warned that export policies could be reviewed for countries considered uncooperative.
“I will conduct an evaluation, and I will not hesitate to consider stopping exports to countries that do not respect Indonesia,” Bahlil said during the inauguration of gas reception at JNE#6 and production facilities at the Mahan-South field.
He added that Indonesia could offer contracts to countries that treat it respectfully, even if they do not currently have one. Bahlil described the approach as an application of equality in international relations.
Bahlil also stressed that Indonesia’s sovereignty must be respected, citing the country’s long struggle for independence.
“Indonesia’s independence was achieved through blood, sweat, tears, and lives,” he said, arguing that no country should consider itself superior to others because of how it gained independence.
The minister had previously raised the possibility of stopping gas exports to neighboring countries by choosing not to renew existing contracts. The proposal followed President Prabowo Subianto’s remarks during a cabinet meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 21.
Prabowo described Indonesia as being in a “survival” phase. In response, Bahlil said the government needed to ensure sufficient energy supplies for domestic consumption.
“I may also consider not renewing gas export contracts with neighboring countries because we have to survive and meet domestic needs,” he said.
