Jakarta, Sept. 12 -- The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry announced plans to import oil from the United States to address fuel scarcity at filling stations operated by private companies.

"This import is also part of our commitment to maintaining the trade balance with the United States," Deputy Minister Yuliot Tanjung said here on Friday, responding to questions about strategies to address shortages affecting private operators such as Shell and bp.

Tanjung said Indonesia may purchase oil from US companies ExxonMobil and Chevron. "Wherever their sources may be, we will still regard purchases from them as balancing our bilateral trade," he added.

According to preliminary estimates, Indonesia needs an additional 1.4 million kiloliter...