Bahlil Ngaku Called Prabowo Securs Polemic Of 3 Kg Elpiji Scarcity

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia admitted that President Prabowo Subianto had contacted him twice regarding the polemic of the scarcity of 3 kilograms (kg) of LPG.

"On the orders of the President, I just got a call this morning and last night we were directed," Bahlil told the media crew in Palmerah, Tuesday, February 4.

Bahlil said he received a briefing in Prabowo to ensure that the distribution of LPG was right on target for the people who were entitled.

He was also asked to arrange so that the price of gas circulating in the market is still bisdijangkau by the community.

"So that the intentions of the individuals who do not comply with the direction of the objectives of these subsidies do not happen again," continued Bahlil.

Bahlil said, before setting retailers into sub bases, Pertamina could not control the purchase of gas through retailers because the seller set its own price.

"The new agent to the base is Rp. 16,000, up to retailers it should be Rp. 19,000 maximum. But if it's Rp. 26,000, it means something is wrong. That's what was wrong then what we made so we wouldn't be wrong," said Bahlil.

He added that later this sub-division will be equipped with IT facilities such as the Pertamina Merchant Application (MAP) application which will be used to record 3 kg LPG users.

This application, said Bahlil, will record buyer data, the number of gas cylinders purchased and prices so that subsidy distribution can really be controlled.

"So starting today, retailers throughout Indonesia, under the name sub-basement. Later Pertamina and ESDM will equip them with an application system and their process into sub-basement is not subject to any fees, we will even proactively register them as a formal part so that they can become MSMEs," said Bahlil.