Govt reviewing gas price for fertilizer producers

The government is continuing to review the price of natural gas for domestic fertilizer producers, which aims to make fertilizer prices reachable to farmers, Republika daily reported on Monday.

?We are continuing to calculate the price of natural gas for fertilizer makers,? Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Suwandi said over the weekend.

Rini said gas price subsidy should no longer be given to state companies which exported fertilizer.

Meanwhile, the national fertilizer industry must give priority to farmers? need for the commodity, at reachable prices, Rini said.

?The government will give priority to the domestic need for fertilizer, and this goes in line with the current oil and gas law,? the minister said.

Currently, fertilizer producers buy natural gas at US$1.3 ?1.8 per million metric British thermal unit (MMBTU), which they complain as still too high for them. (*)