Claimed Not To Be Rare, DKI Provincial Government Asks Residents Not To Panic Buying Gas LPG 3 Kg

The situation in the 3 kg LPG queue was the impact of the government's new policy regarding the distribution of energy subsidies in Lopang Village, Serang District, Serang City, Monday (3/2/2025). (ANTARA/Personal Documentation)

JAKARTA - Head of the Manpower, Transmigration and Energy Agency (Disnakertransgi) Hari Nugroho asked Jakarta residents not to panic buying in buying 3 kilograms (kg) of LPG gas.

Pemerintah, menurur Hari, akan melakukan operasi pasar untuk memastikan stok gas LPG 3 kg yang dijual di agent base tersedia secara merata.

"I hope there is no need to accumulate too much LPG gas. We will overcome the daily needs, perhaps with market operations. We are collaborating with Pertamina, the MSME Service and related to be able to make it happen again. So, you don't have to panic buying. It's normal for purchases," said Hari when contacted, Monday, February 3.

Hari memastikan stok gas LPG di Jakarta belum mengalami kelangkaan. Namun, peraturan baru pemerintah yang melarang penjualan gas 3 kg di pencer dan hanya tersedia di base resmi itu yang menimbulkan panic buying.

"Sub distributors or LPG bases are no longer allowed to distribute 3 kg LPG to retailers. So they were immediately taken over by the base agent. There was panic buying so that in the end it seemed like LPG was rare," said Hari.

In addition, Hari assessed that the highest retail price (HET) of 3 kg LPG gas in Jakarta which is still lower than the buffer zone is also one of the reasons why it is difficult for Jakarta residents to make purchases, because buyers from buffer areas are also looking for gas in Jakarta.

So, in seeking to handle the temporary scarcity, the DKI Provincial Government asks agents or bases to monitor and report the availability of 3 kg gas stocks in their respective places.

Separately, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia asked the public to give time during the transition period from purchasing 3 kg LPG in retail to an official base. This hal follows complaints from people who have had difficulty getting 3 kg LPG for the past few days.

Bahlil ensured that there was no shortage that occurred, but the public had to cover a distance that was further away than usual to get LPG because the government prohibited purchases through retailers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, wherever you are, please give us a little time. We will finish it. There are no rare items. I guarantee it," Bahlil said at a press conference at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building.

He conveyed that the reason the government removed the purchase of fuel through retailers was because there were indications of a price game by retailers so that the public would improve 3 kg of LPG more expensive than the actual price.

"It's just that with a retailer that is not given, it's because what is usually played is at the bottom level," continued Bahlil.