Giving the circumstances, the government think it is necessary to find solution to this problem."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday held a meeting with several ministers following gas price hike starting early January 2014.
The meeting was held at Halim Perdanakusuma airport, half an hour after President Yudhoyono landed from his official visit to East java province.
Among participants of the meeting were Vice President Boediono, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Radjasa, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, Finance Minister Chatib Basri, State-owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, and CEO of State-owned Oil Company Karen Agustiawan.
"Giving the circumstances, the government think it is necessary to find solution to this problem," Yudhoyono briefly said.
Pertamina has hiked the selling price of non-subsidized 12-kg cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas by about 68 percent, effective January 1, 2014.
Deputy President of Pertaminas Communications Affairs Ali Mundakir reported Wednesday that his company had raised the price in an effort to shore up Pertaminas losses in the 12-kg cylinder gas business, which reached about Rp6 trillion in 2013.
"The new price simultaneously became effective across the country on January 1, 2014. The new price of non-subsidized 12-kg cylinder gas translates to an average increase of Rp3,959 per kg for the consumer," Mundakir added.
Pertamina increased the price of 12-kilogram LPG by 68 per cent, or from Rp 70,200 to Rp 117,708 per canister, on Wednesday, the first day of the year.
Although Pertamina has set the price, fixed consumer prices in the market vary depending on the proximity between LPG stations and supply points in each area.
Pertamina claimed the price-hike policy needed to be taken because the company had suffered annual losses amounting to Rp 6 trillion from the 12-kilogram LPG canister business.
(Reporting by Muhammad Arief/translating and editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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