Indonesia to Trial 3 kg CNG Cylinders in West Java Starting August 2026

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has scheduled a trial of 3 kilogram (kg) compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders as an alternative to subsidised 3 kg LPG, beginning in August 2026. The initial trial will be conducted in West Java. Director General of Oil and Gas Laode Sualeman stated that the cylinder samples will first be tested by the Oil and Gas Testing Centre (Lemigas) before distribution. “God willing, by the end of July the cylinder samples will be completed and we will send them to Lemigas for testing, then we will plan how to introduce them to the public,” he said at the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit and Exhibition (GHES) 2026 in Jakarta. The initial trial phase will focus on major cities, with West Java being the first location. The government has not yet determined the exact number of cylinders to be marketed, as the technical testing process is still ongoing. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed that technology testing is still underway in China. He revealed plans to cooperate with state-owned defence manufacturer PT Pindad (Persero) for domestic production once the testing phase is complete. “We are still discussing the scheme. But the trial will be next month. God willing,” Bahlil said. The programme is part of a broader strategy to reduce Indonesia’s dependence on imported LPG by maximising the use of domestic natural gas resources.