REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BALI - Indonesian Government prefers allocating gas for local demand rather than exporting it. The plan was aimed to support the target of national economic growth, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik said.

"The consequence is that the number of exported gas will be decreased if we cannot produce more," he said on Monday. Minister Wacik plans to deliver and explain the plan to gas industries in Asia-Pacific on international gas conference in Bali on Tuesday, October 9.

He explained that local gas demand was increasing sharply due to positive Indonesian economic growth and the plan to convert oil to gas. Most Indonesians currently use oil as energy resource but the oil reserve is decreasing while the price is increasing.

"We will prioritize the usage of gas instead of oil. The price is cheaper and it is environmental friendly," he said.