REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The government is unable to meet the industrial sector's gas needs as it prioritizes demand for export, Chief of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Suryo Sulisto said. "The policy to export gas is wrong," he said Thursday.

The government had taken wrong steps by exporting much gas, he said adding the policy would weaken the domestic industry.

"It is impossible for the government to import gas because it is costly," he said.

Suryo said lack of gas supplies for local industries undermined their capabilities to compete with other countries. "Gas supplies often fluctuate or even stop. As a result, many companies turn to coal which is more costly and is not environmentally friendly," he said.

"The Indonesian economy has been able to grow in the midst of global crisis. But what does the government-set economic growth target of 7-8 percent mean if it has no impact on the people at large," he said.

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