Jakarta, 23 April 2026: ERIA, in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MOHEST), convened a high-level Contingency Workshop on Hormuz Disruption Response: Crisis Management and Structural Transformation for Indonesia. Held at the ERIA Office in Jakarta, the closed-door workshop brought together more than 30 participants from government, industry, and academia, both in person and online.

The workshop assessed immediate energy security risks arising from a potential disruption of the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints – while identifying structural transformation and technological pathways to strengthen Indonesia’s resilience over the short and long term. The urgency of the discussion was underscored by ERIA’s analysis, which suggests that a severe disruption could reduce global transit flows by up to 95%, equivalent to approximately 20.3 million barrels per day, with nearly 80% destined for Asia.

Opening Remarks

H.E. Prof. Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia, opened the workshop by situating it within the President’s directive to reduce dependence on energy imports, particularly gasoline. He highlighted Indonesia’s structural vulnerability, noting that motorcycles account for 85% of the country’s oil consumption, making two-wheelers a key target for transition policies. He emphasised the alignment between household savings and national economic interests, as a shift to electric vehicles can reduce individual fuel costs while lowering the national import bill. He also underscored the role of science and technology as a foundation for long-term resilience.

H.E. Tetsuya Watanabe, President of ERIA, reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to supporting Indonesia and ASEAN in addressing emerging energy security challenges. He stressed that the situation requires not only immediate crisis management but also a coherent, evidence-based strategy for structural transformation.

Key Discussions and Findings

The workshop began with a scene-setting session led by Dr Nuki Agya Utama, ERIA’s Director for Energy Policy and Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center, who framed the Hormuz disruption as a systemic stress test for ASEAN’s energy architecture. He noted that ASEAN’s crude oil import exposure to Hormuz countries reached approximately 52% in 2023, with spillover effects extending beyond energy to supply chains, logistics, fertiliser markets, and macroeconomic stability. He presented a two-pillar response framework: advancing energy security through domestic resource development, infrastructure connectivity, and renewable diversification; and strengthening resilience across supply chains, agri-food systems, and macroeconomic management. He also referenced ERIA’s flagship publication, From Shock to Strategy: Strengthening ASEAN Energy Security and Economic Resilience after the Strait of Hormuz Disruption, released on 21 April 2026.

Indonesia’s specific exposure was further examined by Prof. Suhono Harso Supangkat of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), who highlighted an import gap of around 1 million barrels per day. He proposed a Resilient, Smart, and Sustainable (RSS) city model, positioning urban systems as a critical entry point for energy transition, including the use of PLN’s estimated 6 GW of surplus electricity to support electric mobility and deliver fiscal benefits.

Subsequent sessions explored both demand- and supply-side solutions. ERIA experts presented technology road maps for smart cities and electrified transport, identifying powered two-wheeler electrification and vehicle-to-grid systems as immediate priorities. On the supply side, pathways for scaling up renewable energy, biofuels, and hydrogen were discussed, alongside the potential for regional co-operation with countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Across discussions, participants converged on three key conclusions: Indonesia faces significant structural vulnerability due to import dependence; electrification of transport and urban systems offers the most immediate and scalable pathway to reduce this dependence; and stronger regional co-operation and public–private partnerships are essential to accelerate implementation.

Path Forward

In his closing remarks, Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa, Dean and Managing Director of ERIA’s School of Government, described the workshop as an important first step in a longer process. Drawing parallels with the Pandemic Fund established after COVID-19, he called for similar crisis-driven institutional innovation to strengthen regional energy resilience. He also noted the need to integrate technical, economic, and political dimensions into a coherent and actionable reform agenda.

ERIA and MOHEST reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration through joint research, policy dialogue, and capacity-building initiatives. The workshop marks the beginning of a structured partnership aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s and ASEAN’s preparedness for evolving energy security challenges in an increasingly uncertain global environment.