Indonesia presses ahead with Russian oil imports despite ‘real risk’ of US penalties
Por Resty Woro Yuniar — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement Indonesia This Week in Asia Economics Indonesia presses ahead with Russian oil imports despite ‘real risk’ of US penalties
Analysts say Jakarta made the ‘right decision’ for the country’s energy security but urge dialogue with Washington to maintain transparency
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Resty Woro Yuniar Published: 6:00pm, 22 Sep 2026 Indonesia plans to press ahead with discounted Russian crude oil imports to secure domestic energy supplies and manage fiscal pressures, despite the risk of higher US tariffs as Washington moves to tighten economic pressure on Moscow.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump signed into law an act that would give him authority to impose sanctions on Russia and slap tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five buyers of Russian crude oil, gas and military equipment, or countries that help Moscow evade sanctions.
The legislation, named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, also targets Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers.
The term refers to a network of ageing or obscurely owned vessels that Russia uses to transport oil while seeking to evade Western sanctions and the Group of Seven’s price cap on Russian crude. The ships often operate under complex ownership structures and flags of convenience, making them harder to trace and regulate.
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