The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has commended the swift action taken by the Specific Crimes Directorate at the National Police Headquarters  in apprehending perpetrators involved in the illegal refilling of thousands of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders in Gianyar, Bali.

In the recent raid, authorities arrested and charged four suspects while seizing thousands of LPG cylinders, including 1,616 subsidized 3-kg cylinders, 123 12-kg cylinders, 480 pink 12-kg cylinders, and several vehicles, including pickup trucks and lorries, used for transporting the illegally refilled gas.

“The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources highly appreciates the rapid response of the National Police, particularly the Directorate of Specific Crimes and its personnel. The illicit practice of LPG refilling in Bali has been recurrent. The action taken by the Directorate of Specific Crimes is a crucial step in law enforcement to prevent subsidy leaks in the LPG distribution chain, ensuring that the rights of underprivileged communities are safeguarded,” Rizal Calvary Marimbo, Special Staff to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), said in a statement as quoted on Monday, March 17, 2025.

Rizal emphasized that ESDM Minister Bahlil has declared an all-out war against the LPG mafia, particularly those involved in illegal refilling. 

“Pak Bahlil is taking this very seriously. Act of law enforcement in Bali is just the beginning. Those with ill intentions of stealing subsidized LPG should reconsider their actions. The ESDM ministry will continue to coordinate and collaborate with Specific Crimes Directorate of the National Police Headqusrters to apprehend the offenders. We will pursue them relentlessly,” he said.

According to Rizal, this crackdown could save the State up to Rp25 trillion or (US$1.52 billion) per year. He noted that the government’s LPG subsidy allocation continues to rise annually, reaching Rp87.6 trillion or US$5.32 billion in 2025, an increase from Rp85.6 trillion (US$5.20 billion) in 2024. Additionally, the 2025 quota for subsidized LPG is set at 8.17 million metric tons (mt), marking a 1.74 percent rise from the previous year. 

“Unlike Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which remains self-sufficient domestically, LPG is heavily reliant on imports. Therefore, strict monitoring of its distribution is imperative,” he added.

During the raid, police also seized iron pipes used for refilling smaller LPG cylinders with gas from larger tanks. The four suspects have been charged under Article 55 of Law No. 22/2001 on Oil and Gas, as amended by Article 40, Clause 9 of Law No. 2/2022 on Job Creation.

They face a maximum prison sentence of six years and a fine of up to Rp 60 billion or US$3.65 million . 

“The National Police urges the public to actively participate in monitoring and preventing such illegal practices to ensure that subsidies reach their intended beneficiaries,” Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin, Director of Specific Crimes Directorate at the National Police Headquarters, told a media conference on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.