BLITAR – 3 kg LPG supply in Blitar remains stable during Ramadan, with local authorities confirming that official distribution points continue to sell the subsidized gas cylinders at the government-set price.
Officials from the Blitar City Industry and Trade Office conducted inspections at several LPG distribution bases in the city to monitor supply and pricing.
Parminto, head of the agency, said the checks showed that both supply and retail prices remained within official regulations.
“I checked one of the LPG bases earlier. They are still selling according to the official price ceiling,” he said on Wednesday.
He explained that each delivery usually includes around 200 LPG cylinders. Distributors send shipments twice a week, ensuring regular supply at the base level.
During the inspection, officials also found that several cylinders were still available. Eight units remained in stock at the base visited by the team.
According to Parminto, the shortages sometimes reported by residents often result from consumer behavior rather than supply problems.
Many households keep more than one LPG cylinder at home. Typically, one cylinder is in use while another serves as a backup.
“When the main cylinder runs out and the base has already sold its quota, residents often turn to retailers. Retailers usually sell the cylinders at higher prices,” he explained.
The city currently requires about 7,200 three-kilogram LPG cylinders each day. This demand still aligns with the distribution quota set by Pertamina.
Meanwhile, Rahadian Eka Priyanto, manager of PT Petro Jaya Gas, said agents can only supervise LPG distribution until it reaches official bases.
“Agents work in partnership with Pertamina and the bases. Therefore, we can only monitor distribution up to that point,” he said.
Once the cylinders move to independent retailers, the agents no longer control pricing or sales practices.
However, Rahadian warned that authorities will impose strict penalties on any official LPG base that violates pricing regulations.
“If an official base sells a cylinder for Rp20,000 to Rp25,000, we will immediately terminate the business partnership,” he said.
Authorities plan to continue monitoring LPG distribution to ensure stable supply and fair pricing throughout the Ramadan period.