Tempo.co- Wiratmaja Puja, Director General of Oil and Gas at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said that the government is expecting to increase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports from Iran. The government has been exploring the option since the Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution’s visit to Iran in February.

“We wish to add the amount of imported LPG from Iran. At a discounted price, if possible,” Wiratmaja said on Sunday, March 5, 2017

He said that the government wants to double import volume from 500,000 tons to 1 million tons of LPG for domestic needs.

Wiratmaja stressed that the deal may or may not go through as the government expects a discounted price.

“On the amount of discount, let [state-owned oil and gas company] Pertamina explain it. I don’t have the capacity to answer,” he said.

The director general confirmed that increase in LPG import would have an impact on the amount of LPG imports from other countries, including Saudi Arabia (Saudi Aramco).

Wiratmaja added that the volume of LPG imports from traders is likely to decrease, whereas the amount of direct LPG import will remain.

“It has been informed to Saudi Aramco [during King Salman’s visit],” Wiratmaja said. He declined to reveal Saudi Aramco’s reaction to the potential decrease in LPG import.