Members Of The House Of Representatives Encourages The Government To Immediately Trial The Free Rice Cooker Sharing Program

Illustration of rice cooker. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission VII DPR RI Eddy Soeparno supports the government's plan to distribute 680,000 rice cookers for free to the underprivileged.

He also encouraged the government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) to immediately conduct a trial of this program.

Previously, the discourse on giving rice cookers was intended for households with an electric power of 450 and 900 volt amperes (VA).

The free rice cooker assistance program is related to reducing the use of three kilograms of LPG, so it can save subsidies of IDR 52.2 billion.

"In principle, in carrying out the energy transition to electricity-based clean energy, this is our consideration in Commission VII, especially since there is an element of energy saving," said Eddy in his statement to the media, Tuesday, December 6.

Eddy also admitted that he had calculated the costs spent by the community.

The use of rice cooker will be cheaper than using three kilograms of LPG gas. In each three kg LPG cylinder, there is a government subsidy of IDR 33,000.

He described a series of considerations related to the rice cooker distribution program. In addition to saving 3 kg LPG subsidies, the distribution of free rice cookers can also absorb over supply electricity.

Moreover, he continued, PLN in the coming year will receive a supply of 7.3 gigawatts (GW) despite the need for 800 megawatts (MW).

PLN must pay and must be absorbed using this rice cooker.

"This will be a trial first, if the trial is comparable, this program can be continued," continued Eddy.

According to him, the trial can see how the process runs for evaluation, whether the program can be continued or looking for a more efficient energy transition process.