Jakarta, Oct. 27 -- The Indonesian government plans to build domestic crude oil storage facilities to allow imports to be shipped directly to the country without stopping in third countries.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said the initiative aims to strengthen national energy security amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Under the plan, a Public Service Agency (BLU), in collaboration with several private-sector partners, will oversee the construction of the storage facilities.

"We are going to build crude oil storage facilities here. A Public Service Agency, in partnership with several companies, will handle the construction," Bahlil said in a statement on Monday (October 26).

"This way, wh...