Inaugurating Masela LNG virtually, Prabowo promises to visit Maluku soon

President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to visit Maluku soon after inaugurating the groundbreaking of the Abadi Masela LNG National Strategic Project virtually from the Merdeka Palace, rather than attending in person. ‘I apologise, I had wanted to attend directly, but due to various events I could not leave at the centre, I was forced to attend via this video conference. This does not diminish my respect for all of you,’ Prabowo said during the inauguration at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday. The President stated that his absence from the Tanimbar Islands Regency did not mean the government was reducing its attention towards the people of Maluku. Prabowo expressed that he has a responsibility to fulfil his desire to visit the region. ‘And of course, this is a debt I owe to the people of Maluku and those regencies. God willing, I will repay that debt in the not-too-distant future,’ he said. Prabowo stated that national development is a long journey requiring hard work and unity from all elements of society. According to the Head of State, the Abadi Masela liquefied natural gas (LNG) national strategic project is a crucial part of that effort. Therefore, the President requested that the construction process of the oil and gas project face no obstacles. ‘We have waited for this project for almost three decades. Thank God, today we begin construction, and the development must not be hindered. It must be completed in the shortest possible time,’ he said. The Abadi Masela LNG project is being developed by INPEX Masela Ltd. together with Pertamina and Petronas, with an investment value of approximately 20.9 billion US dollars. The project is designed to produce 9.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, channel 150 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of domestic pipeline gas, and produce approximately 35,000 barrels of condensate per day. The government projects the project will become one of the largest energy industry hubs in eastern Indonesia. In addition to strengthening national energy security, the project is also expected to drive the growth of supporting industries, expand business opportunities for MSMEs, and create jobs by prioritising local workers in Maluku and the Tanimbar Islands Regency.