Energy ministry directs private LPG plants to supply Pertamina unit

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has instructed privately owned liquefied petroleum gas plants to prioritize supplying output to PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, as part of efforts to secure domestic availability.

The directive shifts sales from industrial buyers toward household consumption, according to officials from the ministry’s oil and gas directorate.

“We have instructed private LPG plants to prioritize offering their production to Pertamina Patra Niaga,” said Rizwi Jilanisaf Hisjam, secretary of the Directorate General of Oil and Gas, during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday.

The policy is part of broader measures by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to mitigate supply risks and ensure sufficient LPG distribution to consumers.

Data presented by the ministry showed LPG demand in January to February 2026 reached about 26,000 metric tons per day, or a total of 1.56 million metric tons over the two-month period.

Read also: Inpex ready to supply LPG from Australia to Pertamina

Domestic production supplied around 130,000 metric tons, while approximately 1.31 million tons, or 83.97%, was met through imports.

The United States accounted for the largest share of imports at 68.91%, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 11.83%, Saudi Arabia at 7.36%, and Qatar at 5.21%. Australia and Kuwait contributed 3.81% and 2.61%, respectively.

In parallel, the government is seeking to diversify LPG import sources, with a focus on Asian and ASEAN countries, to strengthen supply security.

Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said earlier that supply constraints had been resolved as of April 4, adding that national LPG reserves currently exceed 10 days of consumption, with additional cargoes expected to arrive.

Director General of Oil and Gas Laode Sulaeman said LPG stocks remain in a stable condition following checks across several regions.

Editing by Alexander Ginting