Having Abundant Gas Sources, Indonesia Still Imports 5.5 Million Tons Of Elpiji

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif said, Indonesia has an energy efficiency program by utilizing abundant gas.

Unfortunately, in the midst of the spilled gas supply, Indonesia still imports Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) of approximately 5.5 million tons per year.

"Our Elpiji is still importing more than 5.5 million tons per year and the trend continues to increase. Meanwhile, we still have excess gas that we export," said Arifin, Indonesia's National Outlook Seminar, Friday, December 22.

Moreover, he said, the tendency for domestic gas production will continue to increase along with the findings of new gas sources.

This year Arifin said that Indonesia through SKK Migas and KKKS met several disclosures that would continue to be encouraged so that production could be accelerated in the next few years.

"This gas can replace LPG which can enter households, restaurants, hotels and replace the LPG that we import," added Arifin.

In addition to increasing gas reserves, the government is currently intensively suppressing LPG imports by encouraging several programs, including coal gasification which is considered to be able to cut LPG imports by up to 1 million tons per year.

Then the government also encourages the household gas network (jargas).

The benefits of the jargas program can help reduce LPG imports by 83.5 million kilograms per year and save the government's energy subsidy costs of Rp474 billion per year with calculations per number of existing gas network customers.

Finally, the distribution of likostric cooking utensils which is considered effective in reducing LPG consumption so that it can cut imports.