Holiday Ayo - The government has stopped selling 3 kg liquefied petroleum gas or LPG to retailers. People can now only buy melon gas at official Pertamina bases. 

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed the size of the government subsidy for 3 kg LPG. 

According to him, per one kilogram of melon gas cylinder there is a subsidy of IDR 12 thousand.

This means that for one 3 kg LPG cylinder, the minimum subsidy amount given reaches IDR 36 thousand.

With the subsidy, the gas price that the public should receive is IDR 5,000 per kilogram, or an estimate of IDR 15 thousand per 3 kg cylinder.

However, in the field the price received by the public can be more than IDR 20 thousand per tube.

For this reason, the government has made improvements in terms of distribution and requires retailers to change their function to become sub-bases.

"Because remember that per kilogram of LPG our subsidy is approximately IDR 12 thousand. One kilogram cylinder of LPG has a minimum subsidy of IDR 36 thousand. This is so that we know very well. And the maximum price to the public is around IDR 5 thousand," he said, Central Jakarta, Monday (3/1).

"But what happened, the prices, ladies and gentlemen, everyone knows, some are suitable, some have prices up to IDR 20 thousand, even though the state allocates this for the community," continued Bahlil. 

By turning retailers into sub-bases, Bahlil hopes that the prices received by the public will be more appropriate and controlled. 

Although Bahlil said adjustments were needed regarding changes to the rules. Bahlil explained that the state allocated IDR 87 trillion for 3 kg LPG subsidies. 

With this subsidy, the government hopes that its distribution can be right on target. 

“In the APBN, IDR 87 trillion is allocated by the state for LPG subsidies. The hope is that this LPG will really be on target," concluded Bahlil.