Prabowo Attends Masela Block Project Groundbreaking Virtually

President Prabowo Subianto attended the virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the Masela Block liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. The project, located in the Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku, is a National Strategic Project for Indonesia.

Prabowo expressed his apologies for not being able to attend in person due to prior commitments, stating, "I apologize, I wanted to attend directly, but because there are various events that I cannot leave at the center, I am forced to attend via this video conference, without reducing my respect to all of you." The ceremony marked the commencement of one of Indonesia's largest energy investments.

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi highlighted the project's significance, calling it a crucial milestone for strengthening national energy security and promoting equitable development in eastern Indonesia. The Masela Block LNG project, developed by INPEX Masela Ltd. in partnership with Pertamina and Petronas, represents 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 yield about 35,000 barrels of condensate daily.

Economic studies predict the project will contribute around $137.7 billion to the national GDP by 2055. It is also expected to boost state and regional revenue, generate approximately 12,000 direct jobs during construction, and help reduce poverty and unemployment, particularly in Maluku Province. Notably, the Abadi Masela LNG project is the first in Indonesia to integrate carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology from its development phase. After nearly three decades since the contract signing in 1998, the project is finally entering its construction phase.