No decision yet on LPG price hike: Pertamina chief

State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina’s president director Widya Purnama said he was surprised by earlier news reports quoting a company official that it planned to raise the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 41 percent starting from January 2006.

Widya summoned the official, who announced the price increase, because the government has not yet decided on this subject.

“Today (Friday), several people called me about LPG price issue. I was also surprised. It (the planned price) is still under consideration,” Widya said.

Pertamina’s LPG marketing assistant manager Rosidi Hasyim announced on Thursday that Pertamina will raise the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 41 percent early next year to Rp 6,000 (60 U.S. cents) per kilogram from the current Rp 4,250 per kg,

Indonesia’s annual production of LPG stands at between 3.5 million tons and 4 million tons. Half of this is sold into the domestic market. Pertamina expects to sell 1.2 million metric tons to households and industry this year. (dino)