THE ongoing conflict in the Middle East prompted Thailand to look for new sources of crude oil to avoid shipping routes in the region.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif said that options include crude oil suppliers from Africa and Latin America.
Indonesia is also considering new sources from oil-exporting countries in Latin America such as Guyana.
Routes from Australia or countries in the Americas do not intersect with the Middle East, according to Tasrif.
However, this option comes with consequences, such as increased shipping costs due to longer distances to Indonesia.
Recent hostilities between Iran and Israel and attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea disrupted global maritime trade and raised concerns of a prolonged conflict.
