Indonesia Prepares Switch from LPG to CNG This Year: Do Residents Need to Replace Stoves?

The government’s plan to replace LPG with CNG is drawing public attention. Many are questioning whether the switch from LPG to CNG will require households to replace their gas stoves.

This issue has arisen following the government’s discussions on converting household energy from 3kg LPG to compressed natural gas (CNG).

The transition from LPG to CNG is seen as one of the government’s strategies to reduce dependence on LPG imports, which have long burdened the state budget. Additionally, CNG use is said to rely more on abundant domestic natural gas supplies in Indonesia.

Therefore, the government is preparing a roadmap for the gradual development of CNG for household needs. Regarding this, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) assures the public not to worry about replacing stoves if the LPG to CNG conversion programme is implemented.

The government states that the LPG stoves currently used by the public can still be used for CNG without needing to purchase new devices. “The stove doesn’t need to be replaced; just plug it in, and the gas flows. Previously using LPG, now using CNG,” said the Director General of Oil and Gas (Dirjen Migas) of the Ministry of ESDM, Laode Sulaeman, in Jakarta recently.

Laode explained that the government is currently developing cylinders to hold 3kg of CNG, or type 4 cylinders. In its development, the government is also considering the gas cylinder valve or cylinder valve, which functions to regulate gas flow while serving as the primary safety system.

According to him, initial test results show that CNG can be used directly on household stoves without additional modifications.

“I have witnessed the use of type 1 cylinders directly; the valve works straight away, and there’s no need for stove modifications. It’s plug and play; the stove ignites with CNG. And the flame is even bluer, from what I observed,” Laode explained.

The government considers this step important to avoid burdening the public with additional costs during the energy transition from LPG to CNG. Moreover, the ease of use is expected to make the transition process faster and more widely accepted by the public.