Indonesia Ready to Become Asia-Pacific Carbon Storage Hub, Says MPR Deputy Speaker
Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) of the Republic of Indonesia, Eddy Soeparno, has asserted that Indonesia has a strategic opportunity to become the largest carbon storage hub in the Asia-Pacific region whilst playing a crucial role in advancing the regional decarbonisation agenda. He made the remarks during a fireside chat at London Climate Week 2026, held at Imperial College London, according to a press release received on Thursday (25/6/2026).
Speaking before an audience of academics, industry players, investors, and international policymakers, Eddy explained that the challenge of decarbonisation in the Asia-Pacific cannot be resolved partially by individual countries. He stressed the need for regional collaboration that connects nations with high emission reduction targets to those possessing adequate carbon storage capacity and supporting infrastructure.
‘Indonesia has an enormous advantage because it is estimated to have a carbon storage capacity of around 600 gigatonnes of CO2, the largest in Southeast Asia. This potential allows Indonesia to not only play a role in reducing domestic emissions but also to become part of the regional infrastructure supporting Asia-Pacific decarbonisation,’ Eddy stated.
He added that the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is a vital instrument for reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, such as natural gas processing, petrochemicals, cement, steel, and power generation. According to the Deputy Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Indonesia has strong capital to accelerate CCS development, drawing on more than five decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, extensive subsurface data, available infrastructure, and continuously developing technical capacity. He noted that Indonesia has currently identified at least 19 CCS and CCUS projects at various stages of development.
Eddy also highlighted the importance of strengthening cross-border cooperation in carbon management. He assessed that the success of cross-border CCS requires regulatory harmonisation, intergovernmental cooperation, internationally recognised monitoring and verification standards, and investment certainty for businesses. ‘Indonesia has taken a step forward by building a comprehensive CCS regulatory framework, including opening up space for cross-border CCS activities. This serves as a crucial foundation for positioning Indonesia as a strategic partner in regional decarbonisation cooperation,’ he said.
He explained that Indonesia has strengthened international cooperation regarding the carbon economy and CCS, including through the Article 6 scheme of the Paris Agreement with Norway, enhanced collaboration with Singapore, and the development of dialogue and feasibility studies with Japan and South Korea.
Eddy further emphasised that CCS is part of a national development strategy that integrates emission reduction targets with industrial competitiveness, energy security, and job creation. He noted that the development of CCS has the potential to attract investment of up to approximately US$43 billion and make a significant contribution to the national economy. ‘The energy transition must go hand in hand with economic growth. Indonesia does not see emission reduction and development as two conflicting agendas. On the contrary, through technologies like CCS, both can proceed together, creating sustainable and competitive development,’ Eddy concluded.