Industry Minister: Resolving Industrial Gas Issues Requires a Common Understanding

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji said resolving issues related to industrial gas supplies and the Certain Natural Gas Price (HGBT) requires coordination and a shared understanding among ministries.

“We are waiting for the presidential decree on the new coordinating ministry, to determine which ministry we will come under. There is a possibility we will be under the Coordinating Ministry for Downstreaming,” Sarmuji said when met in Tangerang on Wednesday.

He said he hoped inter-ministerial coordination would run smoothly so that industrial gas issues could be addressed jointly, taking supply availability into account.

“Gas is not only used as fuel, but also as a raw material, particularly for industry. If coordination is smooth, there is a shared understanding, and the gas is actually available, then God willing, we can work through this together,” he said.

He said coordination was needed to discuss industrial gas issues collectively, including establishing a common understanding of gas requirements as one of the factors supporting production in the industrial sector.

Previously, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) urged the government to address industrial gas supply and pricing issues to safeguard domestic production, investment and job creation.

Kadin Deputy Chairman for Industry Saleh Husin said industrial gas problems were a long-standing issue that had persisted for years without being fully resolved.

He called on the government to review national gas-use priorities, noting that some volumes currently exported could be considered for meeting domestic industrial demand, while taking account of existing contracts, prices and regulations.

Saleh also stressed the importance of coordination across ministries and agencies to ensure industrial gas policy was effective and not impeded by sectoral interests.