TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that the maximum price the public should pay for a 3-kg LPG canister is Rp19,000. According to him, this price is ensured by the government through a subsidy program. 

“Actually, the maximum price of a 3-kg LPG canister should be Rp19,000. That's the highest price,” Bahlil said during an unannounced inspection of an official Pertamina distribution point in Palmerah on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Bahlil explained that the government provides an annual subsidy of Rp87 trillion for 3-kg LPG.  He estimated that the state-owned gas giant Pertamina distributes 3-kg LPG to agents for around Rp12,000-13,000 and official distribution points for around Rp16,000. This means that the price for the lowest level of distributors, including retailers, should be around Rp18,000-19,000. “But if it's priced at Rp26,000, that means there's something wrong,” he emphasized.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto summoned Bahlil to address issues of commodity price and distribution. “On the President's orders, we were directed to ensure that the 3-kg LPG subsidy must be on target. The price must be affordable,” he said.

As a result, the President recently ordered the reactivation of retailers to resell 3-kg LPG canisters. Bahlil announced that their status will be changed to sub-bases. “Starting today, all retailers throughout Indonesia will be active again as sub-base,” he declared.

This policy will transform hundreds of thousands of retailers into official Pertamina sub-bases.  Furthermore, retailers will not be charged any fees for this change in status.

Heppy Wulansari, Corporate Secretary of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, reported that nearly 63 million ID Numbers (NIK) have been registered in the MAP system. They include 53.7 million NIKs for households, 8.6 million NIKs for micro-businesses, 50,000 NIKs for targeted farmers and fishermen, and 375,000 NIKs for retailers.

“This scheme is hoped to maintain services for the community while increasing government supervision through Pertamina on the distribution and consumers of 3-kg LPG,” Heppy said.

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