Pertamina Discovers Evidence of Subsidised Gas Hoarding in Central Java Ahead of Eid
Taufiq Kurniawan, Area Manager for Communications, Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at PT Pertamina Patra Niaga for Central Java, has revealed that the company is collaborating with police forces across various districts in Central Java to prevent the hoarding of subsidised three-kilogramme LPG cylinders in the lead-up to Eid. He confirmed that Pertamina has already identified indications of such hoarding practices occurring.
In addition to petrol and diesel supplies, Pertamina has also increased LPG supply to Central Java ahead of Eid, with supplies increased by approximately 25 per cent above normal demand levels.
According to Kurniawan, the expansion of LPG stocks commenced on 17 February 2026. “During the Nyepi holiday there will be additional supplies, then during the commemoration of Jesus’s ascension there will be more, and then throughout the second to fourth weeks of Ramadan we will increase supplies. In total that amounts to between five and six million cylinders,” he stated following his attendance at a coordination meeting of the Regional Leadership Forum for Central Java (Forkopimda Jateng) to discuss preparations for Eid celebrations at Gradhika Bakti Praja Building, the Governor of Central Java’s Office Complex, in Semarang on Monday, 9 March 2026.
Despite these measures, LPG supply in Central Java should remain secure. “In fact we experienced an oversupply of cylinders, but there are indications of hoarding. That is why we are coordinating with various local police forces where hoarding has been identified. For example, there was recently a disclosure about LPG hoarding in Kudus,” Kurniawan stated.
“This happens because people approach the Eid season and resort to any means necessary,” he added.
On Friday, 6 March 2026, Kudus Police revealed a case involving the illegal decanting of subsidised three-kilogramme LPG into non-subsidised 12-kilogramme cylinders. Authorities arrested one suspect identified as HS, aged 49. From this case, police seized 100 three-kilogramme LPG cylinders and 12 cylinders of 12-kilogramme capacity that were allegedly refilled with subsidised gas.