PGN Targets Hotels, Restaurants, and MSMEs for Gas Network Expansion
Lumajang, East Java (ANTARA) — PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) Tbk (PGN) is targeting the use of its gas network (jargas) not only by households but also by the hotel, restaurant and café sectors, as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
One of PGN’s working areas where it hopes to expand beyond the household sector covers Pasuruan Regency, Pasuruan City, Probolinggo Regency, Probolinggo City and Lumajang Regency.
“We (PGN) are ready should any business operators wish to switch to the natural gas network,” said Mochamad Arif, PGN Pasuruan Area Head, in Lumajang, East Java, on Monday.
Arif said the effort to expand gas network usage to hotels, restaurants, cafés and MSMEs had been discussed with the Lumajang Regency Government.
Moreover, the development of the gas network in the Pasuruan working area — covering Pasuruan Regency, Pasuruan City, Probolinggo Regency, Probolinggo City and Lumajang Regency — was last carried out in 2023 through the State Budget (APBN).
“We have already collected data and held discussions with the Lumajang Regency Government regarding the potential for additional customers from the hotel, restaurant, café and MSME sectors,” Arif said.
He acknowledged that developing the gas network for hotels, restaurants, cafés and MSMEs in Lumajang still faces challenges, as not all business locations are situated within areas already reached by the pipeline network.
Nevertheless, PGN believes that expanding the use of natural gas can be a solution for business operators who have depended on LPG, particularly during supply shortages.
According to Arif, public awareness of switching to natural gas has risen following the policy restricting 3-kilogram LPG.
This, he said, presents an opportunity to broaden gas network usage, including in the hotel, restaurant, café and MSME sectors.
“Public awareness of using non-subsidised natural gas is quite high, especially since the restrictions on 3-kilogram LPG emerged. We hope the use of the gas network can continue to grow,” Arif said.
Meanwhile, to make things easier for customers, PGN has provided a self-service meter reading facility through the PGN Mobile application as well as an official WhatsApp service, the details of which are listed on customer stickers.
One customer in Melawang Village, Klakah Subdistrict, Lumajang Regency, named Ernawati, said she has been using the gas network since 2023 because she often struggled to obtain subsidised LPG.
Ernawati, who sells vegetables and fried snacks daily, said cooking had become easier since switching to natural gas, and it was more economical, with monthly bills of only Rp38,000 to Rp56,000 — and even lower when usage is minimal.
“If I rarely use it, it’s around Rp36,000; if I cook often, it can be Rp50,000 to Rp100,000. What’s certain is that it’s better because the gas is always available,” she said.