President Yudhoyono ordered Vice President Boediono to chair a coordination meeting with involved ministries and institutions and report on its results to the president.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that the price hike for non-subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in 12-kg cylinders was based only on business considerations.
"The president has heard the report about the LPG price hike and peoples concerns, and opined that it is just for business consideration," presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said in a short message to ANTARA on Saturday.
Julian noted that in President Yudhoyonos opinion, the LPG price hike was part of corporate decision-making, based purely on business considerations.
He added, that the president, during his working visit to East Java on Saturday, ordered Vice President Boediono to chair a coordination meeting with involved ministries and institutions and report on its results to the president.
"After that, the participants of the meeting are also required to explain the result of the meeting to the public," Julian said.
The state-owned oil and gas company, PT Pertamina, began raising the selling price of non-subsidized 12-kg cylinders of LPG by about 68 percent on January 1, 2014.
Deputy President of Pertaminas Communications Affairs, Ali Mundakir, reported here on Wednesday that his company has raised the price in an effort to slow Pertaminas losses in the 12-kg cylinder gas business, which had reached about Rp6 trillion in 2013.
"The new price will simultaneously become effective across the country beginning January 1. The new price of non-subsidized gas in 12-kg cylinders translates to an average increase of Rp3,959 per kg for the consumer," Mundakir noted.
He added that the increase at the consumer level will differ based on how far the consumer is located from the LPG distribution station or the supply point.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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