Jakarta, Feb. 20 -- Indonesia's Energy Ministry said a US$15 billion energy trade agreement with the US will not derail its push for energy independence, framing the imports as a tariff-balancing measure rather than a policy shift.

Energy Ministry Spokesperson Dwi Anggia said the commitment to buy US fuel is part of the "Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia on Reciprocal Trade," aimed at rebalancing bilateral tariffs.

"This is in line with the trade agreement to balance tariffs between the two countries, and we agreed to purchase fuel from the US," she said in Jakarta on Friday.

"But that does not mean we are abandoning our energy self-sufficiency agenda," Anggia added.

Under the deal, Indonesia...