Indonesia Still Awaits Clearance in Hormuz, Malaysia Moves Ahead

TheIndonesia.co - Indonesia is continuing to face mounting pressure over its stranded oil shipments in the Strait of Hormuz, with no clearance yet granted by Iran for its tankers to pass.

As of Friday (27 March 2026), negotiations remain ongoing. Earlier this month, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the government was working to secure the release of two tankers operated by Pertamina International Shipping currently held in the area.

“There are two Pertamina cargos stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels are currently anchored in safer locations while we continue negotiations,” he said, as reported by Antara.

No significant progress has been announced since, raising concerns over energy security. Indonesia’s fuel reserves are estimated to last between 21 and 28 days, although officials warn this depends heavily on uninterrupted supply. Even short-term disruptions could quickly reduce available stock.

The situation is particularly acute in the LPG sector, where Indonesia relies on imports for around 70% of national demand, making it vulnerable to geopolitical tensions in the Gulf.

Two large crude carriers operated by Pertamina—PIS VLCC Pertamina Pride and Gamsunoro—remain unable to leave the Gulf due to tightened security measures.

In contrast, Malaysia has secured a diplomatic breakthrough. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Iranian authorities have granted Malaysian-flagged vessels permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The decision, effective Thursday (26 March 2026), followed a series of high-level engagements with leaders in Iran, Egypt, and Turkey.

“We are currently in the process of securing the release of Malaysian oil tankers and the personnel involved so they can return home,” Anwar said, as quoted by Channel News Asia.

While Malaysia moves to stabilise its logistics and protect supply chains, Indonesia’s slower progress has drawn attention, increasing pressure on Jakarta to accelerate its diplomatic efforts amid ongoing uncertainty in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.