Indonesia to Trial 3 kg CNG Cylinders in West Java Starting August 2026
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has scheduled trials of 3 kilogram (kg) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders as an alternative to subsidised 3 kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) starting August 2026. The first trials will be carried out in West Java.
Laode Sualeman, Director General of Oil and Gas at the ESDM Ministry, revealed that samples of the CNG cylinders to be produced will be tested by the Oil and Gas Testing Centre (Lemigas) before being distributed to the public.
“God willing, by the end of July the samples of these cylinders will be finished and we will send them to Lemigas for testing, then we will also plan how to introduce them to the public,” he said on the sidelines of the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit and Exhibition (GHES) 2026 in Jakarta, quoted on Wednesday (22 July 2026).
The initial trial phase will focus on large cities to assess infrastructure readiness and public response. “The trials will be in big cities first, perhaps one of them will be West Java first,” Laode continued.
Nevertheless, the government has not yet determined the exact number of cylinders to be marketed, as the process is still at the technical testing stage. In addition to safety, the ministry is also working out the distribution scheme, whether they will be distributed free of charge or through a particular market mechanism.
“We are not talking numbers yet. What matters now is, first, safety, and second, the mechanism for how to prepare this for the public. That’s all for now,” he added.
The testing is expected to help distribute the use of domestic resources to reduce dependence on LPG imports, which currently dominate supply.
“We are still discussing what the scheme will look like. But the trials will be next month. God willing, God willing,” he concluded.
Separately, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed that testing of the CNG cylinder technology is still ongoing in China. He said the government has prepared plans for cooperation with the state-owned defence company PT Pindad (Persero) to support the gas infrastructure requirements.
“The CNG testing is still ongoing, not yet finished. It’s still in China, the tests are still being carried out there, and after that we will work with the state-owned companies here,” Bahlil said on the sidelines of the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit and Exhibition (GHES) 2026 in Jakarta, Tuesday (21 July 2026).
The cooperation with Pindad will focus on manufacturing once the entire series of checks in China is complete. Bahlil stressed that the government does not want to rush and will first ensure the technology is suitable before implementing it widely.
“We will work with Pindad later, but we still need to check over there first. Once that’s finished, we will take further action,” he continued.