A LETTER from state gas company PGN in December did not entirely surprise Edy Suyanto. The Chair of the Indonesian Ceramic Industry Association (Asaki) had already heard rumors that PGN’s gas supply would decrease at the start of this year, exactly as stated in the letter.

However, Edy and Asaki members are worried because gas prices will rise. Typically, ceramic factories pay a special rate of US$6 per metric million British thermal