For Price Stability, Puskepi Calls 3 Kilogram LPG Base Needed In Every RT

JAKARTA Arrangement of the distribution system of the Director of 3 kilograms of LPG (kg) has received support from the Center for Public Policy Studies (Puskepi). Puskepi proposes that in each neighborhood unit (RT) there is one base that sells to serve a maximum of 100 houses or 100 families so that people can buy subsidized LPG according to the highest retail price (HET).

"Requirements to become a base must be made as easy as possible. For example, simply by having an ID card, a place to sell, not moving, a domicile certificate from the kelurahan or village, bank accounts, gas cylinders according to the allocation provided, scale tools and gas detectors," said Sofyano from Puskepi in Jakarta, Saturday, February 8.

According to Sofyano, the increase in the number of 3 kg LPG bases is absolutely necessary so that people who are entitled, can only and can buy subsidized LPGs at official bases recorded in government-assigned enterprises, namely Pertamina.

"The distribution chain or distribution of 3 kg subsidized LPG only through agents and bases registered officially at Pertamina is absolute and must be maintained because it is proven that they can be monitored by the government and the Indonesian Supreme Audit Agency," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

Sofyano also reminded the government and officials to seriously enforce the rules contained in Presidential Decree 104 of 2007 that users who are entitled to 3 kg LPG are households and micro-enterprises. So, when there are parties who are not households or micro-enterprises who are proven to be able to buy and or trade 3 kg LPG, decisive action must be taken.

Regarding the HET of the 3 kg LPG base set by the local government, Sofyano asked that it was time for the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to do this as the highest institution entitled to give final approval for the amount of HET increase at the base.

"So the authority to decide whether or not the 3 kg HET LPG at the base must remain in the hands of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, not the local government," he said.

He also asked the government to correct the amount of 3 kg LPG sugar cane from agents to Pertamina in the amount of Rp. 11,588 per tube that has never been corrected since the launch of the kerosene conversion program to LPG 3 kg.

"However, the correction to the sugar cane price does not have to be increased the amount of the national HET because in reality the HET of the base set by the regional government has increased far from the national HET, an average of around 35 percent," Sofyano added.