Government must lower the price of gas industry

JAKARTA, [IFN] -- National business agent asked the government to lower the price of gas industry that is considered too high among countries in Asean.

"Gas prices are expensive industry could threaten the competitiveness of national industry with other countries. Employers ask for the price of gas can be reduced to as low as US $ 5 per MMBtu, "said Chairman of the Coordinating Gas Industry Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Achmad Widjaja in Jakarta, Tuesday (31/3).

As is known, gas prices in Singapore around US $ 4 to US $ 5 dollars per MMBtu, Malaysia US $ 4.47 per MMBtu, the Philippines US $ 5.43 dollars per MMBtu and Vietnam around US $ 7.5 per MMBtu. Compare with the conditions in Indonesia which membanderol industrial gas price of US $ 9.3 per MMBtu.

Under these conditions, according Widjaja, if the price of gas for industry higher, it could threaten the position of the national industry in the Asean free market or the Asean Economic Community (AEC). During this time, businesses are willing to merogok pocket US $ 9.3 to buy gas for industrial sector.

"If the government and gas operators can no longer bring down the price, if there is no option to give rebates to employers," he said.

National industry, said Widjaja, already very helm with the classic problem of the gas industry.

"We will continue to try to find a gap that industrial gas prices could go down. We are determined to continue to fight and demanded several ministries including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, if you wait long study of definite government, "he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Industry Forum Users Gs Earth (FIPGB), Achmad Safiun, propose the same thing with that said Achmad Widjaja, ie to lower the price of gas industry to US $ 5 per MMBtu.

"Gas prices are a national industry can not be sold at a price exceeding US $ 5 per MMBtu, because the price of gas industry in Malaysia has reached US $ 5 per MMBtu. The Malaysian government sold its industrial gas price of US $ 4 per MMBtu, Malaysian entrepreneurs know that the government provide assistance, "he said.