Ministry Of Industry's Turn To Analyze Bulk Cooking Oil Policy, Minister Of Industry Agus: So That The Supply Is Available And The Price Is According To The HET

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Industry)

JAKARTA - The problem of cooking oil has not yet ended. After the Ministry of Trade revoked the regulation on the highest retail price (HET) which made cooking oil supply visible, this time it was the Ministry of Industry's turn to overhaul the bulk palm cooking oil (MGS) policy.

Quoting the Ministry of Industry's statement, Tuesday, March 22, the bulk MGS policy, which was originally trade-based, was changed to industry-based.

According to the Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, this was done because the trade-based Bulk MGS policy proved ineffective in maintaining the supply and price of MGS for the community, micro-enterprises and small businesses. "With industry-based policies, the government can better regulate raw materials, production and distribution of bulk MGS, so that the supply is always available at prices that match the HET," said Minister of Industry Agus.

The Minister of Industry added that this industry-based policy was also strengthened by the use of digital technology for the Bulk Cooking Oil Information System (SIMIRAH) in its management and supervision.

This Industry-Based MGS Policy is stipulated through the Regulation of the Minister of Industry (Permenperin) No. 8 of 2022 concerning the Provision of Bulk Cooking Oil for the Needs of the Community, Micro Enterprises, and Small Businesses in the Financing Framework by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS). This Permenperin regulates the business processes of the Subsidized Bulk MGS program starting from registration, production, distribution, payment of subsidy claims, prohibitions, and supervision.

At the registration stage, all Palm Cooking Oil industrial companies are required to register to participate in the program.

"There are 81 industrial companies that are required to participate and participate in this program. We require all MGS industries to register through SIINas and industrial companies that do not register will be subject to sanctions," said Agus.

Based on data from the Ministry of Industry, the need for bulk MGS is estimated at 7,000 – 8,000 tons per day. As of today, 47 industrial companies and their distributors have registered through SIINas.

"Of the 47 companies, 30 of them have completed verification and have received registration numbers, while 17 others are in the process," added the Minister of Industry.

Agus is also optimistic that the Subsidized Bulk MGS program is able to supply a larger market demand and at a price according to the Government's HET.

To ensure the implementation of this program, the supervision involves representatives of the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Finance, POLRI Food Task Force, local governments, and BPDPKS.