JAKARTA. Coordinating Economic Minister Chairul Tanjung says that state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina will go ahead with plans to increase the price of 12-kilogram (kg) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters despite the resignation of president director Karen Agustiawan.

He said Pertamina had sent a letter regarding its plan to increase the price of LPG canisters and that he had submitted the letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Cipanas, West Java, on Aug. 8.

The government has approved the plan and has advised the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

He said that the central government had approved the plan and the amount of increase would be discussed.

“Pertamina and the government will discuss the price in a consultative meeting within the next few days. The government has no objection to the plan,” he told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Previously in January this year, the price of 12-kg LPG canisters rose Rp 1,000 (8.6 US cents) and Rp 1,500 per kg.

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie