President Prabowo inaugurates Indonesia's $21 billion Masela LNG project

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto officially marked the start of the LNG Abadi Masela (Blok Masela) project on 16 July 2026 with a groundbreaking ceremony held virtually from the Merdeka Palace and on site in the Tanimbar Islands, Maluku. The development, valued at roughly US$20.9‑21 billion (about Rp 390 trillion), is the largest energy investment in the country’s history.

The project, operated by Inpex Masela Ltd (65% stake) together with PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Masela (20%) and Petronas Masela (15%), aims to produce 9.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, supply 150 million standard cubic feet per day of domestic piped gas and generate about 35,000 bbl per day of condensate. Around 60% of the gas is earmarked for domestic use, supporting downstream industries such as fertilizer and a planned blue‑ammonia plant, while the remainder may be exported.

After a 28‑year delay that spanned six presidential terms, the project is seen as a key step toward Indonesia’s energy self‑sufficiency, industrialisation and economic growth, with additional carbon‑capture‑and‑storage technology included to reduce emissions.