Minister Of Industry Agus Regarding The Sustainability Of Cheap Gas Prices This Year: Wait For Presidential Regulation To Be Issued

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Keramic Industry Association (Asaki) has asked the government to immediately extend the policy of Certain Natural Gas Prices (HGBT) for the ceramic industry to enter 2025.

Asaki also asked the government to find a solution with PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (PGN) related to disruptions in gas supply that had been protracted and never finished. As a result, business actors experience restrictions on gas use, which is around 65-70 percent of the volume of gas contracts.

In this regard, the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said President Prabowo Subianto had decided that the cheap gas price policy would remain in effect this year.

He said, there are seven sectors that will accept the cheap gas price policy. The seven industrial groups are the fertilizer industry, petrochemicals, oleochemicals, steel, ceramics, glass glasses and rubber gloves.

"The HGBT has been decided in a meeting chaired by the President (still) to apply to seven sectors that have indeed been included in the list of beneficiaries," Agus said at a press conference at his office, Wednesday, February 26.

However, Agus said, the implementation of the policy could not be implemented because the rules had not yet been published.

"Indeed, now it hasn't (run) because the Presidential Regulation (Presidential Regulation) hasn't (published) yet," he said.

According to Agus, his party will coordinate with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and the Ministry of State Secretariat (Kemensetneg) so that regulations can be issued immediately.

"Well, we will coordinate with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of State Affairs so that the issuance of the Presidential Decree immediately. However, the meeting (limited meeting) already exists, the decision is already there. It has been approved by the President," said Agus.

"So, we all still have to do well," he concluded.

Based on the Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia Number 91.K/MG.01/MEM.M/2023 concerning Certain Natural Gas Users and Certain Natural Gas Prices in the Industrial Sector, HGBT has ended on December 31, 2024.