INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The increase in industrial gas prices that business actors have recently complained of triggered fears of disruption of production activities to the threat of termination of (PHK) employment.
In response, the Minister of Energy and Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia ensured that gas supply for domestic needs remained safe, despite acknowledging that there was a price increase influenced by global market dynamics.
Bahlil affirmed that the government has guaranteed the availability of gas supply for the national industrial sector, including (LNG) liquefied natural gas. According to him, the main problem currently facing the industry is not the scarcity of supply, but rather price adjustments that follow the rising trend of world energy.
"In terms of supply, I assure you that all of our domestic needs for LNG gas are available. The price has indeed increased, and it is not only in Indonesia, in the world the same thing happened," Bahlil said at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday (8/6).
Bahlil's statement was delivered in response to the concerns of the industry regarding the surge in gas prices which was considered to reduce production costs and interfere with business continuity.
A number of industry players even warned that rising energy prices have the potential to reduce the competitiveness of national products and open up the risk of reducing labor if the cost burden continues to increase.
However, Bahlil asked the business world not to worry about the availability of energy. The government, he said, continues to monitor the development of the international energy market to anticipate a wider impact on the national industrial sector.
"Supply-wise everything is there. The price is indeed there is a correction because it follows world prices," he said.
In the midst of global energy price pressure, the government also strives to maintain the sustainability of Harga Gas Bumi Tertentu (HGBT) implementation, which has been one of the important instruments to increase the competitiveness of national industries, especially the manufacturing sector and labor-intensive industries.
Bahlil revealed that the government is still reviewing options to keep the industrial energy costs competitive without disturbing the continuation of national energy supply.
"For the price of the HGBT it does fit the government's decision. Up until now we were looking for a more efficient path," he said.
