RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is expanding its Household Gas Network (Jargas) program to reduce dependence on imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) while optimizing the use of the country's abundant natural gas resources.

Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Muhammad Qodari said Indonesia's annual LPG demand reaches around five million metric tons, with a significant portion still being met through imports.

"This program supports energy diversification by utilizing domestic natural gas as a substitute for LPG, thereby reducing dependence on imported LPG and strengthening national energy security," Qodari said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

He explained that Indonesia's natural gas reserves, particularly methane and ethane, are far greater than its LPG reserves. According to him, about three-quarters of the country's gas resources consist of natural gas that can be utilized as a household energy source through the Household Gas Network (Jargas) program.

"Our natural gas resources, namely methane and ethane, are far more abundant than LPG. Around three-quarters of Indonesia's gas reserves consist of natural gas, or methane and ethane," he said.

However, Qodari acknowledged that challenges remain in developing the necessary infrastructure and distribution network for natural gas.

"There are indeed challenges in distribution. That is one of the issues we are addressing, among other measures, through the expansion of the gas network," he added.

According to him, expanding the gas network is a strategic long-term measure to strengthen Indonesia's energy security while helping reduce household expenses for families that have long relied on LPG cylinders.

The government aims to build more than 900,000 household gas connections between 2026 and 2028 across eight regencies and cities: Bogor Regency, Depok City, Bekasi Regency, Cirebon City, Tangerang Regency, Lamongan Regency, Pasuruan Regency, and Jombang Regency.