Elpiji Scarcity 3 Kg, Police Can't Find Hoarding Indications Only Lowering Supply

Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Helfi Assegaf (Rizky AP/VOI)

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police revealed the results of the investigation carried out regarding the 3-kilo LPG gas 'depletion' in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi areas. So far, no indication of hoarding has been found.

The Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Helfi Assegaf, said that based on the facts found, the cause of the 3 kilo LPG gas 'deficiency' was due to the decrease in distribution.

"No (the hoarding). There is indeed a shortage of supply stock," Helfi told reporters, Tuesday, February 4.

From the results of the reports received, said Helfi, the decline in supply from agents to bases per day is quite large. The number reaches 150 gas cylinders.

"What used to be per day was 280 3 kilos LPG cans. Currently only 130 per day," he said.

On the other hand, it was also conveyed that the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police would oversee the Highest Retail Price (HET). If it is found that the party playing about it is hot, of course, it will be prosecuted according to applicable law.

In fact, the National Police will recommend to the Director General of Oil and Gas to revoke the business licenses of the rogue agents who played.

"The main thing is that we go through the relevant ministries. The Director General of Oil and Gas may revoke the permit," said Helfi.

The scarcity of LPG gas is 3 kilos due to government regulations prohibiting its sale from being retailed. Thus, the sales process is concentrated in official distributors.

Shortly thereafter, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that 3 kg LPG retailers can now return to selling melon gas with a new status as a sub-dimmer.

Bahlil said this was a directive from President Prabowo Subianto who asked all retailers who were previously prohibited from selling LPG gas again.

"On the direction of the President, the first is all suppliers, yes, the suppliers that we have functioned for them per day have started to become sub-baselines," said Bahlil during an inspection at Palmerah, West Jakarta, Tuesday, February 4.

Bahlil said, later this sub-division will be equipped with IT facilities such as the Pertamina Merchant Application (MAP) application which will be used to record 3 kg LPG users. This application, said Bahlil, will record buyer data, the number of gas cylinders purchased along with prices so that subsidy distribution can really be controlled.

"So starting today, retailers throughout Indonesia, under the name sub-basement. Later Pertamina and ESDM will equip them with an application system and their process into sub-basement is not subject to any fees, we will even proactively register them as a formal part so that they can become MSMEs," said Bahlil.