For the past two weeks, 3 kg LPG stock in some areas of Kota and Kabupaten Blitar, East Java experienced vacancy. Food Satgas Team of Blitar City Police Department intervened to conduct an investigation. A number of LPG sales agents are checked to ensure the cause of scarcity.
"We do checks on a number of LPG agents," said Kaspreskrim Polres Blitar City AKP Heri Sugiono.
One of the LPG agents visited was PT Petro Jaya Gas. LPG stock is safe. So does the distribution from agent to base.
"It's just that there is an increase in demand," said Heri who claimed to also check the LPG storage warehouse.
The cause of the 3 kg LPG demand is the focus of the investigation. Macro business activities, hotels and restaurants are suspected of causing increased demand.
Heri asserted, 3 kg LPG is only for household and micro business needs. He appealed outside the household and micro business not to use 3 kg LPG. If violated the police do not hesitate to take action.
"In this case we have lowered officers to the field to look for causes of increased demand," he explained.
Yani Budi Sarwono, Director of PT Petro Jaya Gas, one of the LPG agents in Blitar City, admitted the increasing demand as the cause of 3 kg LPG rarity. Yet from the supply of 22 thousand tubes per day has added 11 thousand tubes.
"All directly digelontorkan to the community and immediately sold out," he said.
From the experience that has been, Yani said this situation always happens every month before the fasting month. Currently the selling price of LPG also rose from Rp16.000 to Rp23.000. But so far the supply from the agent to the base went smoothly.