Asri Basin Poised to Become a Major Carbon Storage Hub in the Asia-Pacific

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com—Asri Basin is projected to become one of the largest underground carbon storage hubs in the Asia-Pacific region. The area has an estimated storage capacity of up to 2.9 gigatonnes of CO2 and a development potential of up to 30 million tonnes per year (MTPA). The projection was reinforced after PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) and ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions Indonesia Limited (EMLCSIL) expanded their strategic collaboration in the development and commercialisation of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Hub Asri Basin project in Indonesia. The collaboration was formalised through the signing of an Amended and Restated Heads of Agreement (HoA). The signing took place during the Indonesia Petroleum Association Convention and Exhibition (IPA Convex) 2026 at ICE BSD, Tangerang, on Thursday 21 May 2026. The event included technical studies, the development of a business model, and market exploration to support the commercial implementation of the project. Corporate Secretary of PHE, Hermansyah Y Nasroen, said the development of the CCS Hub Asri Basin is part of PHE’s long‑term strategy. The strategy is aimed at supporting the national energy transition through low‑carbon solutions. Strengthening the partnership with ExxonMobil is also a key step in accelerating the realisation of a CCS ecosystem in Indonesia. “Together with ExxonMobil, we want to build a strong foundation for the commercialisation of CCS in Indonesia, while also opening opportunities for Indonesia to become a competitive carbon storage service hub in the Asia-Pacific region,” Hermansyah said in a statement on Friday (22 May 2026). The project is also designed to accelerate the transition to a low‑carbon economy. The Asri Basin’s location, near Indonesia’s main industrial hub, is considered strategic. This position gives Asri Basin the potential to serve domestic and regional carbon storage needs. Geographically, Asri Basin is about 180 kilometres from Jakarta. The area covers 848 square kilometres, with water depths of around 30 to 35 metres. The region is deemed to have characteristics conducive to CCS development, including saline aquifer formations with thick, porous reservoirs.