Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif announced on Monday that the government would continue its natural gas subsidy program for manufacturers in seven industries. The program, launched in 2020 and due to expire this year, allows manufacturers of steel, ceramics, glass, petrochemicals, fertilizers, oleochemicals and rubber gloves to purchase the fossil fuel at a fixed natural gas price (HGBT) of US$6 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). The government was also considering expanding the industry categories for the subsidy to those “growing, but in the same categories as the seven industries”, said Arifin, as quoted by Antara.On the other hand, the Indonesian Gas Companies Association (IPGI) has asked the government to evaluate the subsidy program as it does not provide benefits for upstream businesses. IPGI secretary-general Andi Rahman added that the program had not benefited upstream businesses so far, given persistently high fertilizer prices and stagnant electricity prices, although the two sectors had benefited from the subsidy. (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: The Jakarta Post, 10 July 2024