ESDM devises 3 kg CNG distribution scheme affordable to the public

Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is drafting a 3 kg CNG distribution scheme to replace the affordable 3 kg LPG for the public, namely by not requiring households to purchase CNG cylinders. The cylinders belong to the operating company, with the gas supplier as the provider. So, under the scheme being developed now, the public will not be required to buy cylinders. The cylinders are borrowed, Laode Sulaeman, the Director-General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of ESDM, said on the sidelines of IPA Convex in Tangerang, Banten, on the evening of Wednesday, 20 May.

He added that there will be a limit on the number of 3 kg CNG cylinders allocated per household. When the gas runs out, people can exchange the cylinders in the same way LPG is distributed.

During the event, Laode said that for the next up to three months, the government will focus on securing 3 kg CNG cylinders that have been tested for safety.

Therefore, during this testing phase, prospective 3 kg CNG entities will import 100,000 cylinders from China. Laode emphasised that it is not the government that buys the CNG cylinders, but the prospective entities.

“This is being done by the prospective business entities, not us (the Ministry of ESDM). They are the ones currently in the process,” Laode said.

When safety aspects are fulfilled, they will undergo feasibility testing and obtain the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) assurance; only then will the government conduct piloting or initial implementation of the use of 3 kg CNG.