Bahlil Urges Inpex Corp to Accelerate Abadi Masela Project
The government is promoting the acceleration of the Abadi Masela gas project realisation, which has been delayed for decades. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has requested Japanese energy company Inpex Corporation to expedite project stages to prevent further delays.
Bahlil conveyed this during a meeting with Inpex CEO Takayuki Ueda in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, 15 March 2026. “Because we want this to happen quickly, so it doesn’t drag on again. It’s been 27 years, do we have to wait until I’m 60 years old before it’s completed? Especially since that’s my mother’s hometown,” Bahlil stated, according to the official Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources website, Monday, 16 March 2026.
In the meeting, Bahlil emphasised the importance of the massive gas project in the Arafura Sea reaching the final investment decision stage promptly. He noted that the Abadi Masela project is estimated to require approximately US$20 billion in investment, equivalent to Rp339 trillion using an exchange rate assumption of Rp16,900 per US dollar. He assessed the project as having potential to become a new economic driver in eastern Indonesia whilst serving as a gas supply source for domestic industry.
Bahlil also conveyed that project progress has currently reached approximately 25 per cent. The government has requested that the front-end engineering and design (FEED) stage be advanced to the second quarter or at the latest the third quarter of 2026. Concurrently, the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) tendering process is expected to proceed in parallel to expedite project construction.
Bahlil also offered the possibility that Abadi Masela field production, projected to reach 9 million tonnes per annum, could be purchased by Danantara should no serious buyers emerge by end-April 2026. According to him, this approach could provide market certainty whilst supporting domestic gas needs, including for downstream processing programmes.
Bahlil noted that various administrative requirements have been fulfilled. Environmental approval through the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) document was issued on 13 February 2026. Previously, forest area release approval from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry had been issued in January 2026. Consequently, he requested that Inpex remain consistent in meeting the agreed project stage targets so that the Abadi Masela project can soon enter the construction phase.
In response, Takayuki Ueda stated that his company is committed to accelerating the project’s realisation. He noted that the Masela project has long been Inpex’s focus and the meeting with the Indonesian government was valued as strengthening the company’s momentum to drive acceleration of its completion.