JAKARTA: Indonesia is preparing to develop compressed natural gas (CNG) in three-kilogram (kg) cylinders for household use as an alternative to three-kg liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said.
Bahlil said CNG is already being used in several hotels, restaurants and kitchens supporting the government’s free meals programme, using domestically sourced gas, with plans under way to expand its use to households.
"We have just started producing the three‑kg (cylinders), which cost 30 to 40 per cent less,” the minister said on Saturday (May 2), Antara news agency reported.
Bahlil acknowledged ongoing challenges in CNG development, but said the government remains committed to advancing the initiative to enhance energy efficiency and national energy independence.
CNG or compressed natural gas is a gaseous fuel produced by compressing natural gas, mainly containing methane (C1) and ethane (C2).
According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Indonesia has annual LPG consumption of about 8.6 million tonnes, of which only 1.6 to 1.7 million tonnes are produced domestically, with the remainder met through imports.
The ministry said CNG development could support efforts to strengthen national energy resilience, alongside optimisation of oil and gas lifting, fuel diversification including B50, and LPG diversification. - Bernama
