Indonesia seeks cooperation of Singapore traders in USD 12 billion Pertamina probe
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Singapore-based trading companies have been reached out by Indonesian authorities to seek their cooperation in a USD 12 billion (SGD 15.5 billion) corruption investigation involving state-owned oil giant PT Pertamina, reports Bloomberg.
According to several people who received or saw the invitation, who wished to remain anonymous, the oil traders received notices earlier this month, requesting them to assist the office of Indonesia’s Attorney General by providing answers on overall governance and past transactions.
The missive, sent from a Pertamina email address, detailed that the interviews would be conducted at Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), without confirming dates.
The Attorney General office reportedly confirmed several Singapore-based companies had been summoned, but said no interviews have been conducted yet.
In February, it was reported that Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office arrested three executives at units of state-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina in connection with a IDR 193.7 trillion (USD 12 billion) crude oil corruption scandal.
Since then, Indonesia’s local media has reported more executives including Nicke Widyawati, the company’s former chief executive, have been questioned by the office of Attorney General.
According to the Bloomberg report, Indonesia is dependent on energy imports, and Singapore-based companies are regular participants in Pertamina’s tenders for the purchase of petrol and crude oil.
Recently, there have been reports of Indonesia planning to cut fuel imports from Singapore and is eyeing supplies from the US and the Middle East instead.
Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that Indonesia could shift as much as 60% of its total fuel imports from Singapore to the United States in the early stages. He was quoted as saying Indonesia aimed to progressively reduce imports from Singapore to zero “some day”.
Photo credit: Pertamina
Published: 20 May, 2025
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