March 13, 2026 | 08:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto urges all parties to cut fuel consumption in response to the US-Israel war against Iran that sent crude oil prices and reserves swinging.
The head of state says Indonesia must take proactive measures to deal with the impact of the Middle East war. "In the sense that we ought to tighten fuel consumption," Prabowo says during a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Prabowo warns that oil price hikes affect food prices, and while food supplies remain safe in Indonesia, the president urges his aides not to become complacent.
Prabowo says the government is reviewing the possible measures to conserve fuel, citing other countries, including Pakistan, which have adopted policies to save energy amidst the escalating war.
Pakistan, for example, adopted a work-from-home policy for public and private employees, as well as cutting government vehicles and ministry spending. "These are referred to as critical measures, as the condition is deemed perilous," he says.
Prabowo suggests similar approaches, but says the Indonesian government is actively reviewing which policies to adopt.
"I think we should also strive to save fuel," Prabowo remarks, stressing that Indonesia must gear up to face the possible worst-case scenario of a prolonged war.
"We hope the worst-case scenario would not happen in the Middle East, but many predict this to be a long war," he adds.
The war Israel and the US waged on Iran has been ongoing since late February 2026. The US-Israeli attacks killed the top leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, and several of his family members.
Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and all US military facilities in the Middle East region. Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for around one-fifth of global energy trade.
The warfare and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to a surge in global oil prices. On Friday, March 13, 2026, the price of Brent oil returned to the level of US$100 per barrel. Price surges also occurred for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil futures contracts.
Citing data from Trading Economics, the price of Brent crude oil futures contracts on March 13, 2026, reached the level of US$101 per barrel. Meanwhile, the price of WTI oil was recorded at US$97 per barrel.
The price of Brent oil briefly touched a peak of US$117 per barrel on March 9. The price today is higher than the highest price the day before, Thursday, March 12, which was recorded at US$100 per barrel.
Read: Indonesian Minister Dissuades Fuel 'Panic Buying' Amidst Iran War
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