Had It Fired, How Will The PLN Electricity Compor Program Continue?

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN emphasized that the conversion program of LPG stoves to electricity continues as a corporate action of the company in providing clean energy. In fact, previously the program was canceled, aka it was not continued. President Director of PLN, Darmawan Prasodjo explained that the program for converting electric stoves was the company's initiative as a corporate action of the company that was not related to the government program. "For electric stoves, we run the program, just not in the context of compensation subsidies. We are soft selling to our customers with non-subsidized installed capacities," he said in a meeting with Commission VI of the DPR, at the DPR Building, Parliament Complex, Monday, November 28. Furthermore, Darmawan also said that the auction for the procurement of electric stoves that had been rolled out in the early stages of the conversion program would be resumed in stages. "Of course, the auction we put forward also runs with a record that we scaled it down according to the stock they prepared," he said. Based on the calculations, Darmawan said, the potential savings through conversion of electric stoves of around Rp6,000 per kilogram (kg) when compared to non-subsidized LPGs. "But compared to LPGs 3kg subsidies that cost in the market Rp. 18,000 per 3kg. Of course, the use of electric stove stoves is more expensive twice. From Rp6,000 to Rp. 12,000," he explained.

As previously reported, Deputy Minister of BUMN I, Pahala Nugraha Mansury said that the trial program for the 3kg LPG stove convention to the electric induction stove had been stopped by PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN. Pahala said, this decision was in accordance with the agreement at the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas). "Yes, that's more or less (stopped)," he said when met in Sarinah, Jakarta, Wednesday, September 28. Furthermore, Pahala said there was no further explanation whether the 3-kg LPG gas stove conversion program to an electric stove would be resumed. "It seems that we have no plans to continue the use of the induction stove," he explained. Regarding the fate of the electric stove that had already been given to the public, Pahala admitted that he did not know for sure. He suggested asking PLN further.

"Wow, it might be asked to PLN, yes," he said. For your information, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN officially canceled the program to divert LPG stoves 3 kg to electric stoves. This step was taken to maintain public comfort in economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. "PLN decided that the transfer program to electric stoves was cancelled. PLN was here to provide comfort in the community through reliable electricity supply," said PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, in an official statement, Tuesday, September 27. The PLN electric stove program was canceled after receiving criticism from various circles. One of the members of Commission VII DPR Mulan Jameela considers the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) stove conversion program to induction electric stoves too rushed. Mulan believes that the use of electric stoves will not be optimal for Indonesia's household. Therefore, Mulan asked for the program to be reviewed because it will cause new problems later. "We commission VII had discussed with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. We agreed that this program must be reviewed. It seems that what Mr. Bambang said is correct, resolving the problem with problems," he said in a Working Meeting with the Directorate General of ILMATE of the Ministry of Industry on September 21.