Jakarta, April 17 -- Indonesia aims to begin importing crude oil from Russia as early as April, as the government seeks to diversify energy supplies and reduce reliance on traditional partners amid global market disruptions.

"For crude oil, shipments could start this month," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told reporters in Jakarta on Friday.

He previously underscored Indonesia's heavy import dependence, with a daily deficit near one million barrels as domestic output stands around 600,000 barrels per day against consumption of 1.6 million.

"It should be noted that we require about 300 million barrels annually," Lahadalia said at Merdeka Palace, adding the government will pursue all opportunities aligned with nat...