Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia is developing compressed natural gas (CNG) in 3‑kilogram cylinders as an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced. Bahlil said CNG is already being used in several hotels, restaurants, and kitchens supporting the government’s free meals program, with raw materials sourced domestically. The government is now preparing to expand its use to households. “We have just started producing the 3‑kilogram [cylinders], which cost 30–40 percent less,” the minister said at an event organized by the IPB Alumni Association in Jakarta on Saturday. Despite challenges, he affirmed the government’s commitment to continue developing CNG to support energy efficiency and strengthen national supply. CNG is derived from natural gas—primarily methane (C1) and ethane (C2)—which are abundant domestically. The gas is compressed to pressures of 250–400 bar for use as fuel, with cylinders designed to withstand high pressure and ensure safe storage and distribution. Bahlil noted that CNG has strong potential because Indonesia’s natural gas resources are more plentiful than LPG feedstock, which depends on propane and butane (C3–C4) and is limited in domestic production. According to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Indonesia consumes 8.6 million tons of LPG annually, but only 1.6–1.7 million tons are produced domestically. The remainder is imported. Developing CNG is therefore expected to reduce reliance on imported LPG, optimize oil and gas lifting, and diversify national energy sources, the ministry stated.