State energy holding company Pertamina recorded a 10 percent increase in the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the first week of Ramadan, which started on May 6.

Pertamina retail marketing director Mas'ud Khamid said in a press statement on Wednesday that regular-day LPG consumption stood at around 21,269 metric tons per day on average, while from May 6 to 13,  consumption rose 9.7 percent to 23,338 mt per day.

"We want to make sure that the LPG supply in 3-kilogram canisters is enough to fulfill the demand during Ramadan because we have allocated 15 percent of additional LPG supplies from what is used on regular days," he said.

Pertamina established 33,000 standby outlets that sold LPG and prepared 593 LPG bulk-filling and transportation stations (SPPBEs), he added.

Mas'ud further stated that Pertamina limited the number of agents and stations that could sell the subsidized 3-kg LPG because the product was only sold to low-income citizens. “I suggest that people who are not categorized as poor not buy 3-kg LPG, but non-subsidized LPG products," he said.

The government distributed 3-kg LPG canisters for low-income citizens to replace kerosene, which is widely used for cooking fuel. However, Pertamina has no clear mechanism for supervising the buyers of subsidized LPG canisters. (bbn)