Acceleration of Masela Block Development Safeguards Indonesia's Economic Sovereignty

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry expert advisor Satya Hangga Yudha Widya Putra stated that accelerating the development of the Masela Block is not merely about pursuing production targets but a crucial measure to protect Indonesia’s economic sovereignty amid global geopolitical uncertainties. According to him, in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday, after a long wait of more than a quarter of a century, the strategic national project (PSN) of the Abadi Field, Masela Block, Maluku, is now entering a decisive new phase. “This momentum is marked by the start of physical construction last February, a tangible proof that this project has shifted from mere administrative discourse to real action on the ground,” Hangga said. During the Silahturahmi Pengabdian Mata Garuda event, an organisation of LPDP scholarship recipients in Jakarta on Friday (10/4/2026), Hangga highlighted that the urgency of the Masela Block becomes even more apparent when observing the increasingly heated international dynamics. Hangga revealed that when oil prices reach $110 per barrel, dependence on imports—despite diversification to sources in the United States, Africa, and Australia—still places heavy pressure on the trade balance. “It is in this context that the Masela Block emerges as a domestic fortress that will supply energy on a massive and stable scale,” he explained. Commercially, the project shows significant progress with the signing of an MoU between Inpex and PT Pertamina (Persero) on 30 March 2026. Currently, SKK Migas is overseeing intensive negotiations for LNG purchases as an absolute requirement for the company to achieve the final investment decision (FID).