Free Rice Cooker Program Continues Until Next Year

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) ensures that the rice cooker electricity distribution program (AML) will continue and continue next year.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif said, after distributing 500 thousand AML units this year, ESDM will continue to distribute rice cookers to increase household electricity consumption.

"Yes, this is 500 thousand that we are running. Next year it will also be allocated. Why? Because we need to increase the demand for electricity," said Arifin, quoted on Monday, November 6.

In addition to increasing electricity demand, he said, this program is also believed to be able to replace the use of LPG in the community.

Not only using AML, but the government will also continue to boost the use of gas networks (gas networks) to increase domestic gas absorption.

He reasoned that the government would carry out programs that could reduce the use of LPG with other appropriate substitution programs.

"We are carrying out program programs for LPG substitution with what programs can indeed be implemented. Among other things, AML is also a jargas. But this jargas takes a long time, this AML will also grow the domestic industry to make electric stoves," concluded Arifin.

Meanwhile, it is known that the AML-sharing program is projected to be delayed until December 2023 from the initial target in November 2023.

Head of the Communication, Public Information and Cooperation Service (KLIK) Bureau of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Agus Cahyono Adi said that for now the program is still in the procurement stage because the revision of the Budget Implementation List (DIPA) has only been completed at the end of October 2023.

"Now the process is still being procured. It's in the e-catalog. It hasn't been shared because it's just clear with the Ministry of Finance," said Aca, Agus Cahyono's nickname, when met at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, November 3.

For this reason, he ensured that the schedule for distributing this rice cooker could be postponed until the end of this year because it was still waiting for the procurement process.

"But it must be divided this year. If it is this year before December, it must be distributed, if it is not implemented again," said Aca.

He also emphasized that the procurement of rice breeding devices does not depend on only one brand because the procurement process is carried out openly and selected by the Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute (LKPP).

"There is no tendency for brands A, B, C. It all depends on e-catalog, there is a process and selection. Ask LKPP the process," he concluded.