Indonesia has warned that it could suspend energy exports to countries that fail to treat it with respect, raising questions about the future of regional energy supplies, including natural gas imports to Singapore.
Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition, said on Oct 22 that the government would review its existing energy export agreements and consider ending supplies to countries that did not respect Jakarta. He made the remarks during an event marking the commissioning of gas production facilities in the Indonesian capital.
“I will conduct an evaluation. I will not hesitate to consider stopping exports to countries that do not respect Indonesia,” Bahlil said, without identifying any particular country or dispute.
Indonesia Puts National Interests First
The warning followed comments by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who urged his government to protect the country’s natural resources and ensure they primarily benefited the Indonesian population.
Prabowo argued that Indonesia was facing challenging circumstances and needed to prioritise its national interests. He compared the country’s natural resources to blood, warning that a nation could not survive if it continued allowing its resources to flow out without sufficient consideration for its own needs.
Bahlil also stressed that disagreements between governments should be handled through dialogue and mutual respect. He criticised countries that sought Indonesia’s assistance when they needed resources but allegedly failed to behave appropriately when other issues arose.
Despite the strong language, the minister said Indonesia remained willing to enter energy export agreements with countries that treated it as an equal, including those that did not currently have supply contracts with Jakarta.
Singapore’s Natural Gas Supply in Focus
The announcement could attract attention in Singapore, which relies partly on natural gas imported from Indonesia to meet its energy requirements.
Indonesia supplied natural gas to several major markets in 2025, including Japan, China, Singapore and South Korea. Figures from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency showed that Japan received approximately 3.8 million tonnes, while China imported 3.79 million tonnes.
Singapore received around 3.22 million tonnes, making it one of Indonesia’s significant natural gas export destinations. South Korea imported approximately 2.27 million tonnes, while Thailand and the Philippines received about 291,000 tonnes and 138,000 tonnes respectively.
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said in Parliament in September 2025 that Indonesia was one of the Republic’s main natural gas suppliers. Existing import contracts between the two countries are scheduled to expire at the end of 2028.
However, Indonesia has not announced that it will terminate its gas exports to Singapore, and Bahlil did not single out the Republic in his latest remarks.
Electricity Export Talks Face Pricing Disputes
Beyond natural gas, Singapore and Indonesia are also exploring cross-border electricity cooperation, including plans for Indonesia to supply low-carbon electricity to the Republic.
Progress has nevertheless encountered difficulties over commercial terms. On Oct 19, Bahlil said negotiations on electricity exports to Singapore had not reached an agreement because the two sides differed over pricing.
Earlier in October, he said Indonesia would review its electricity export arrangements to ensure the country received greater economic benefits, including more influence over pricing and project development.
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority has granted conditional licences to six Indonesian electricity import projects with a combined capacity of 3 gigawatts. Both countries are also working towards developing at least 3.4 gigawatts of cross-border electricity projects by 2035.
Indonesia’s latest warning does not necessarily signal an imminent disruption to Singapore’s energy supply. Nevertheless, the emphasis on domestic demand, economic returns and equal treatment highlights the commercial and diplomatic considerations that could shape future energy agreements between the neighbours.
For Singapore, which imports energy to support its electricity generation and wider economic activity, the negotiations underscore the importance of maintaining reliable supply arrangements while diversifying its energy sources over the longer term.
Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons