Government Prepares Safety Standards for CNG Use as LPG Substitute
The Indonesian government is preparing safety standards for the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a substitute for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), along with related ministries and agencies, is consolidating efforts to formulate technical standards for utilising 3-kilogramme (kg) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative replacement for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The Director General of Oil and Gas (Dirjen Migas) of the Ministry of ESDM, Laode Sulaeman, explained that the cross-sectoral coordination focuses on studying operational safety aspects of gas cylinders. The government is synchronising regulations to ensure that the standards issued can be implemented safely.
“One of the important aspects is safety. This safety aspect is not only from the Ministry of ESDM, but also involves the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Manpower, and BSN, which issues the standards,” he said when met at the Ministry of ESDM office in Jakarta on Wednesday (13/5/2026).
His side targets the implementation of the use of compressed natural gas to begin through pilot projects this year. This is important given the characteristics of CNG, which has different pressure from conventional LPG cylinders, thus requiring specific cylinder manufacturing.
“We are consolidating all of this so that these aspects can be handled,” said Laode.
The utilisation of CNG is also seen as a way to reduce dependence on LPG imports by maximising domestic gas potential. Laode emphasised that the transition process will be carried out in a measured manner through planned technical stages by the ministry.
“Actually, alternative and replacement mean the same thing. But if we say replacement, it’s massive and large; if alternative, we have stages. The correct approach is that we have stages,” he clarified.
Regarding the supply, the government assures that domestic natural gas reserves are still very sufficient to support the CNG programme for households. The success of discovering new gas fields also serves as a guarantee for national energy security in the long term.
“We have a lot of gas, and now more large gas fields have been discovered, like the one by ENI recently… that’s big,” he stressed.
Understanding and Specifications of CNG
Referring to the definition in Presidential Regulation No. 64 of 2012 on the Provision, Distribution, and Pricing of Gas Fuel for Road Transportation, CNG is gas sourced from natural gas with methane (C1) components.
The gas is compressed and stored in special high-pressure cylinders to make it easier to transport, store, and use as vehicle fuel.
According to the official website of PT PGN (PGAS), natural gas itself consists of a mixture of elements such as hydrocarbons comprising methane (C1), ethane (C2), propane (C3), and butane (C4). CNG itself consists of 95% methane content.
Given the diversity of natural gas elements, their processing and utilisation vary. Natural gas can be processed into LPG, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), including into CNG.
Understanding CNG is often accompanied by comprehension of LPG and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). However, it should be noted that CNG, LPG, and LNG are three different things.
The main difference between CNG, LPG, and LNG lies in their physical state and storage pressure. CNG is stored in gaseous form at high pressure, while LPG is in liquid form at moderate pressure and temperature. LNG, on the other hand, is transported in liquid form at very low temperatures.