Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia extended the government's apology to the public over the unfortunate outcomes stemming from his ministry's subsidized LPG policy, including a reported death attributed to fatigue while queuing.
Since the policy's rollout on February 1, which bans retailers from selling subsidized 3-kg LPG cylinders, long queues have been observed at official, designated stations and distributors across regions.
"The government would like to ask for forgiveness for this unfortunate event. Our policy is solely aimed at revamping the distribution of subsidized LPG," he remarked after inspecting a designated LPG station in Jakarta on Tuesday.
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Lahadalia assured the public that the government would continue to evaluate the policy to avert further negative repercussions.
He highlighted that the government had decided to upgrade retailers to sub-station status, enabling them to resume selling the green-colored LPG cylinders.
The minister acknowledged retailers' crucial role in ensuring consumers have access to subsidized gas.
"We want the people to have convenient access to LPG," he emphasized.
Furthermore, Lahadalia mentioned that 370 thousand retailers had been registered as official sub-stations of 3-kg LPG cylinders.
On that note, he remarked that the ESDM Ministry and state-run gas and oil producer Pertamina would collaborate to help retailers obtain sub-station status.
Earlier on Monday (February 3), a senior resident of South Tangerang, Banten, named Yonih, 62, reportedly died from fatigue after waiting in line to purchase a subsidized LPG cylinder at a local designated distributor.
Saeful, a neighborhood head, shared that Yonih left her home at 10 a.m. local time for the station, located around 300 meters away. After obtaining a cylinder, the woman paused on her way home.
Due to her deteriorating health, her family rushed her to a nearby hospital. However, the woman passed away before arriving at the medical facility.
