{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1823277,
        "msgid": "layoff-threat-looms-over-industrial-gas-prices-bahlil-seeks-solution-1782373852",
        "date": "2026-06-25 13:42:00",
        "title": "Layoff Threat Looms Over Industrial Gas Prices, Bahlil Seeks Solution",
        "author": "Putri Yuliani",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Economy",
        "summary": "The Indonesian government is scrambling to address the threat of mass layoffs driven by high industrial gas prices outside the subsidised HGBT scheme. Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed technical discussions are underway with Pertamina to find a pricing formula that maintains industrial competitiveness. Labour unions have warned that without immediate intervention, approximately 50,000 workers could face redundancy, with one ceramics company already planning furloughs.",
        "content": "<p>The threat of layoffs due to high industrial gas prices has drawn the\ngovernment\u2019s attention. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil\nLahadalia stated that his ministry is seeking a solution to ease the\ncost burden faced by industrial gas users outside the specific natural\ngas price (HGBT) scheme, in order to maintain business continuity and\njobs. According to Bahlil, the government currently applies two gas\nprice schemes: HGBT, which receives state support, and the general or\nnon-HGBT gas price, which follows market conditions. He explained that\nthe price increase in the non-HGBT group is influenced by declining gas\nproduction from several wells, particularly in West Java, forcing\nsupplies to be supplemented with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Papua,\nSulawesi, and Kalimantan, which incurs higher distribution costs. \u201cTo\ncover that, we use LNG. LNG is brought from Papua, Sulawesi, Kalimantan,\nand that adds costs. We are currently looking to mediate this so that\nthe industry is not burdened with high prices,\u201d Bahlil said on the\nsidelines of the Energy Forum in Jakarta. He stressed that the\ngovernment has communicated with industry players, associations, and\nlabour unions to discuss the issue. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral\nResources, together with Pertamina, is currently holding technical\ndiscussions to find a price formula that can maintain the\ncompetitiveness of national industry. \u201cI am now in a technical meeting\nwith Pertamina to find an ideal figure so that our industry can\nsurvive,\u201d Bahlil said. He assured that the overall national gas supply\nremains secure, noting that the current problem is not a supply shortage\nbut the price increase felt by several industrial sectors outside the\nHGBT scheme. Previously, the President of the All-Indonesia Workers\u2019\nUnion Confederation (KSPSI), Andi Gani Nena Wea, received complaints\nfrom representatives of 15 companies and 15 leaders of the KSPSI\nChemical, Energy, and Mining Workers\u2019 Union units in Bekasi, West Java.\nDuring the meeting, industry players voiced concerns that high gas\nprices are burdening company operations and threatening business\ncontinuity. Gani revealed that if the government does not take concrete\nsteps immediately, around 50,000 workers could potentially be laid off.\nHe noted that one large ceramics company in Bekasi has already announced\nplans to furlough hundreds of workers due to high industrial gas costs.\n\u201cThis situation is very worrying. If it is not addressed soon, a wave of\nlayoffs could occur in the near future,\u201d Andi Gani said. He added that\nhe had conveyed the matter directly to the Minister of Energy and\nMineral Resources, who responded quickly by gathering all stakeholders\nto find a solution. Besides the industrial gas issue, Gani also\nhighlighted the potential for layoffs in the nickel sector triggered by\nthe licensing process for Work Plans and Budgets at the ministry. While\nsupporting law enforcement and mining governance, he requested that the\nprocess not lead to increased layoffs in the related sector.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/layoff-threat-looms-over-industrial-gas-prices-bahlil-seeks-solution-1782373852",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}