JAKARTA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is preparing a long-term contract to import crude oil from Russia as part of efforts to strengthen national energy security, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Wednesday.
Bahlil said the first shipment has arrived and a second phase of imports is underway. "Later, we will draw up a long-term contract," he told reporters in Jakarta.
The minister said the imports are being handled under a state-led procurement scheme through the Oil and Gas Testing Center, rather than state-owned energy company Pertamina.
He added that Indonesia needed additional oil supplies to maintain adequate domestic fuel stocks. ■