27/03/2026

FRIDAY | MAR 27, 2026

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Russian crude arrives in Philippines amidst energy crisis

The city-state had planned to require departing flights to use the more expensive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in their mix starting this year, and to collect a levy on tickets to finance that. SAF, a biofuel made from plant and animal materials such as cooking oil and fat, which produces lower carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel, is crucial to the airline industry’s bid to cut carbon emissions. Authorities previously said they would start charging the levy on tickets sold from April 1 for flights departing Singapore starting Oct 1. However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement on Wednesday that the levy would now be applied to tickets sold from Oct 1 for flights departing from Jan 1, 2027. “The Civil Aviation Authority of Japan releases more oil reserves TOKYO: Japan yesterday said it has started to release another part of its strategic oil reserves as it looks to temper the impact on the resource-poor nation from the surge in prices caused by the Middle East war. Iran has virtually closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global crude and gas flows, since the United States and Israel began striking the country on Feb 28. Japan is the fifth-biggest importer of oil, with more than 90% of it from the Middle East. “The release (of the national stockpile) started at 10.59 am (0159 GMT) to oil refiners,” Kaname Morimoto, an official of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry told AFP. Government spokesman Minoru Kihara said he was aware that the “transfer of oil from half of the reserve stations to four oil refining companies is scheduled to start”. The move comes after Tokyo said this week it would release a month’s worth of government stockpiles, as officials started releasing 15 days’ worth of private-sector petroleum reserves. As of Wednesday, 45 Japan related vessels were stuck in the Persian Gulf, including 24 Japanese crew members, according to the Transport Ministry. Japanese Shipowners’ Association president Hitoshi Nagasawa on Wednesday said it was “strongly asking the government”to help reopen passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi this week said the waterway was “closed only to enemies”. The statement came after Tehran told the International Maritime Organisation that “non hostile vessels” could transit the strait if they met safety regulations. International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol on Wednesday said he was “ready” to approve the release of more oil reserves if needed. – AFP

CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan said while Singapore remains committed to cutting carbon emissions, “we are taking a pragmatic pause in view of the current situation”. CAAS said in a follow-up statement that with the deferment of the levy’s implementation, the target to require 1% SAF in the fuel mix would now apply from 2027. “Our intent is still to raise the target to 3% to 5% by 2030, subject to global developments and the wider availability and adoption of SAF,” the regulator added. Oil prices have soared since the US-Israeli war against Iran disrupted tanker shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves through the global economy. “We will continue to work closely with our aviation industry partners and monitor global developments,” Han said. – AFP MANILA: A ship carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil has arrived in the Philippines, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP yesterday, days after the country declared a national energy emergency over the Middle East war. The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the Sierra Leone flagged Sara Sky , bearing high-quality crude from Russia’s ESPO pipeline arrived on Monday, with documents showing the consignee as Petron Corp, operator of the Philippines’ sole oil refinery. The Philippines is heavily dependent on imported fuel, the cost of which has skyrocketed since the US-Israeli war with Iran forced the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz. An AFP journalist yesterday saw the Sara Sky at anchor in the Limay port just outside Manila, where the Petron refinery is located. It is believed to be the first shipment of Russian oil to the Philippines in five years. Last week, Petron CEO Ramon Ang told AFP the company was “in talks” to potentially purchase Russian oil. He declined to confirm the arrival of the shipment yesterday. President Ferdinand Marcos on Wednesday said the Philippines is casting a wide net in its search for fuel, with the country’s dwindling stocks expected to last only another 45 days. “We have not only gone to our traditional oil suppliers, we have tried to explore other sources that are not affected by the war that is ongoing in o Country casting wide net in search for fuel, says president

The Sara Sky anchored at the Limay port in Bataan province. – A FPPIC

murder. The activist had just recorded a podcast episode on the subject of military expansion before the incident. Andrie has been in a Jakarta hospital since the attack and is currently in intensive care following surgery on Wednesday to treat injuries to his right eye, and skin grafts around his eye, chest and shoulder areas, the comission said. Responding to the handover of position, it urged Prabowo to form an independent team to investigate the case, adding that it should be handled by civil courts instead of the military court, echoing a call earlier this week from the Human Rights Watch. “What happened to Andrie Yunus is a serious crime that occurred in a civilian space, outside of the context of the military work as well as state defence operations,” the comission and other civil society groups said in a joint statement. – Reuters She said top coal supplier Indonesia had placed “no restriction” on the amount the Philippines could buy if it needs to increase imports. Meanwhile, Filipino Defence Minister Gilbert Teodoro on Wednesday said the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened “immediately”. “It is of vital importance to us that the Strait of Hormuz be opened immediately and kept safe,” Teodoro told AFP in an interview in Paris. “Not only for the seafarers, but also for Philippine consumers. The poor Filipinos who need to pay astronomical prices for electricity, fuel, and power. I think the effects are worldwide.” – AFP

members of the intelligence unit. He added that if found guilty, punishments range from disciplinary action to dishonourable discharge. Yudi, who Reuters could not immediately reach for comment, was not among the four. Concern over the erosion of democratic values has grown in Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, where the military’s involvement in civilian areas and state-run businesses has increased significantly under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, a retired general. In a roundtable interview last week, Prabowo said the attack on Andrie was “terrorism,” pledging a thorough investigation and no impunity. Hundreds of civil society groups in Indonesia, including Amnesty International, have alleged the attack on Andrie was attempted 20 billion-peso (US$332 million) emergency fund that Energy Secretary Sharon Garin called a “proactive step” to securing fuel supplies. Garin added that the archipelago nation also planned to boost the output of its coal-fired power plants to keep electricity costs down as the war wreaks havoc with gas shipments. She also said with the cost of LNG (liquefied natural gas) soaring, the country would “temporarily” be forced to lean even more heavily on the fossil fuel, the main contributor of climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from human sources.

JAKARTA: A senior officer in the Indonesian military has stepped down following an acid attack on an activist known for his opposition to the expanded role of the military, a spokesperson said yesterday. Andrie Yunus, a deputy coordinator with the rights group Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, suffered burns to 20% of his face and body from acid thrown by assailants on a motorcycle on March 12. The case drew local and international condemnation. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said the attack was a “cowardly act of violence”. Military spokesperson Aulia Dwi Nasrullah confirmed to Reuters that there had been a “handing over of position” by Yudi Abrimantyo, the military’s intelligence unit chief, as a form of responsibility for the attack. Indonesia’s military had previously said it arrested four officers, all the Middle East,” he said in a press briefing addressing the state of emergency. “Nothing is off the table. We are looking at everything, everything that we can do.” The US this month eased some restrictions on sales of Russian crude, allowing countries to purchase oil that was already at sea until April 11. Kpler analyst Muyu Xu told AFP about 120 million barrels of Russian oil may have been at sea at the time, adding much of it may have already been pre-ordered by Chinese or Indian clients. The Philippines’ Department of Energy yesterday activated a

Indonesian military officer steps down following acid attack

Singapore defers green jet fuel levy SINGAPORE: Singapore will defer charging a levy on the use of green jet fuel to adjust to price rises caused by the Middle East war, regulators said on Wednesday. Singapore will defer the implementation of the SAF levy, in view of the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on airlines and passengers.“