Indonesia Prioritizes Local Workers for Abadi Masela Gas Project

The Indonesian government is making local employment a priority for the strategic national project (PSN) of the Abadi Masela liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Kepulauan Tanimbar, Maluku. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia assured that adequate training is being provided to local residents to prepare them for jobs in the oil and gas sector.

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Some local children have already been sent to study in Cepu, at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' Academy of Oil and Gas (Akamigas Polytechnic). And we will absorb all of them to work on the Masela Block project.

"Some local children have already been sent to study in Cepu, at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' Academy of Oil and Gas (Akamigas Polytechnic). And we will absorb all of them to work on the Masela Block project," Bahlil said during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Abadi Masela LNG project in Maluku on Thursday, July 16, 2026. He added that professional recruitment for the Masela Block will prioritize local people. If more jobs become available, the government will consider hiring from other regions or even abroad.

During the construction phase, the Masela Block project will require approximately 12,000 direct workers. Bahlil estimates that indirect employment could triple this number, reaching up to 36,000 jobs. The project is also projected to employ around 1,000 people during its operational phase. Local businesses will also be prioritized to support the project's development, aligning with President Prabowo Subianto's directives.

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The professional jobs we will take first from tier one and tier two. Don't let the local children here think that investment is coming in, but they are not prioritized.

The Abadi Masela LNG project, developed by INPEX Masela Ltd. in partnership with Pertamina and Petronas, involves an investment of approximately $20.9 billion. It is designed to produce 9.5 million tons of LNG per year, supply 150 million standard cubic feet per day of domestic pipeline gas, and produce about 35,000 barrels of condensate daily to support national energy needs. Notably, Masela Block is the first LNG project in Indonesia to integrate carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology from the development stage. As of early July 2026, the front-end engineering design (FEED) progress stood at 79.56 percent, exceeding targets. Various strategic permits and the design of main facilities are proceeding on schedule towards a final investment decision (FID) by the end of 2026. President Prabowo officially commenced the construction of the Abadi Masela LNG PSN, a national energy project anticipated for nearly 28 years.

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Prioritize local entrepreneurs. This is in line with what Mr. President (Prabowo Subianto) has ordered.