"Bad Neighbour"?: Netizens Slam Indonesia Minister's Threat to Halt Energy Exports

Indonesia may review its energy export agreements and consider halting supplies to countries it believes do not respect the country, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on 22 Oct.

Speaking at an event in Jakarta, Bahlil urged countries with disagreements with Indonesia to resolve them through dialogue and mutual respect, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.

His remarks followed comments on 21 Oct, when he said Indonesia was considering not renewing gas export contracts with neighbouring countries as it prioritised domestic energy needs.

Indonesian energy ministry figures reported by Katadata showed that domestic consumption accounted for 69.8% of the country's natural gas utilisation in 2025, rising to 74.55% by June 2026.

The statements echoed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's calls for the country to safeguard its natural resources and put national interests first.

Indonesia is a significant supplier of natural gas to Singapore. In 2025, Singapore received about 3.22 million tonnes of Indonesian natural gas, making it the country's third-largest export destination for the resource, after Japan and China.

Existing natural gas import contracts between Singapore and Indonesia are due to expire at the end of 2028.

Bahlil's remarks come after Singapore criticised comments by an Indonesian official suggesting that the country's forests provide oxygen to Singapore, and identified companies suspected of contributing to the fires that have caused the haze.

However, Senior Minister K. Shanmugam stressed that Singapore hoped to work with Indonesia to address the issue and did not want the matter to escalate into a bilateral dispute.