Jakarta, May 18 -- Indonesia plans to import compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders, likely from China, as part of a strategy to gradually replace subsidized three-kilogram LPG cylinders and reduce reliance on energy imports.

Energy Ministry's Oil and Gas Director General Laode Sulaeman said Indonesia lacks the technology needed to manufacture small CNG cylinders capable of withstanding high-pressure storage.

"To date, the technology is only available abroad. We are not yet capable of producing it ourselves," Sulaeman told reporters at the Energy Ministry office in Jakarta on Monday.

Asked about potential suppliers, Sulaeman said the government was "currently leaning toward China" for the initial procurement phase.

He said imports wou...