Jakarta, Aug. 5 -- Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the government is preparing a long term contract to import crude oil from Russia.

"The first shipment has already arrived. The second shipment is underway. We will later establish a long term contract," Lahadalia said here on Wednesday.

He stressed the procurement and import of Russian crude oil are being carried out by the government through the Oil and Petroleum Testing Center (Lemigas) and not by state-owned energy firm Pertamina.

Once the government imports crude oil from Russia, Lahadalia added, its distribution to the public becomes a state matter that cannot be influenced by other countries.

"No other country can interfere with the state'...