Prabowo accelerates LPG-to-CNG shift amid energy turmoil
The government will keep subsidized fuel and LPG prices unchanged while preparing alternative energy options and reorganizing mining permits.
President Prabowo Subianto ordered an ускорated shift from LPG to compressed natural gas, or CNG, to strengthen national energy security amid global geopolitical uncertainty. The directive was delivered at a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday night, attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. In addition to converting LPG to CNG, the meeting discussed downstream processing, reorganizing mining permits, fuel availability, and PLN's power supply readiness. Bahlil said subsidized fuel and LPG prices would remain unchanged to preserve the purchasing power of low-income groups, while non-subsidized fuel prices would follow market mechanisms. He also said coal stocks for power plants remained safe, although several PLN units had problems that would be addressed soon so outages in some regions do not continue.