Price of 12 Kg LPG Suddenly Rises by Rp38,000, Agents Flooded with Customer Complaints

The sudden increase in the price of non-subsidised 12 kg LPG gas has begun to provoke reactions at the grassroots level. Gas agents and consumers alike are feeling the impact, particularly because the price hike is considered quite significant in a short time.

The price of 12 kg LPG is now recorded to have risen from Rp210,000 to Rp248,000 per cylinder. The Rp38,000 difference is immediately felt in the field, especially by agents who deal directly with consumers.

In the Pesanggrahan area of South Jakarta, one agent admitted to facing numerous complaints from customers shocked by the price increase. Many of them were unaware of the price adjustment, leading to complaints when making purchases.

“The impact is that some buy, some don’t, but there are many complaints, but they still buy it whether they like it or not. Because that’s the price now. For 12 kg, it’s not subsidised anyway, it’s for the upper class, so to speak. It’s different from the subsidised 3 kg one, which probably doesn’t have any issues,” said the owner of an LPG agency, Suryati, in Pesanggrahan, quoted by tvOne.

Although complained about, demand for 12 kg LPG has not experienced a significant decline so far. Consumers continue to purchase it because gas is a primary need that cannot be postponed, especially for households and small businesses.

A similar phenomenon is occurring in several other regions. In Bandung, the price of non-subsidised 12 kg LPG has also been reported to creep upwards with varying ranges at each agent. The increase even reaches tens of thousands of rupiah.

Previously, the price of 12 kg LPG in that area was around Rp192,000 to Rp228,000. Now, prices at some points have been reported to exceed around Rp236,000 per cylinder. Not only that, 5.5 kg LPG has also seen an increase from around Rp90,000 to Rp107,000.

This price surge has shocked the public, especially because it is deemed to have minimal socialisation. Many consumers claim they only learned of the increase when about to buy, thus causing confusion and complaints in the field.

The increase in the price of non-subsidised LPG is known to have been effective since 18 April. Nevertheless, the public’s consumption patterns have not shown any significant changes. Household energy needs that cannot be delayed make consumers continue to buy, even if they have to dig deeper into their pockets.