Prabowo Inaugurates Masela Block, Praises INPEX CEO for Learning Indonesian

President Prabowo Subianto praised INPEX Masela CEO Takayuki Ueda for learning Indonesian and expressed confidence that the Abadi LNG project in the Masela Block will bring benefits to Indonesia. The remarks were made during the virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the National Strategic Project (PSN) from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. Before President Prabowo delivered his speech, Ueda began his report in Indonesian, reading from a prepared text with a noticeable Japanese accent, before completing most of his presentation in English. Prabowo noted that it is rare for foreign company leaders to learn the Indonesian language, viewing it as a sign of respect for Indonesia as a partner. He expressed optimism that under Ueda’s leadership, the project would proceed as planned and deliver benefits for all parties. The President also extended his appreciation to all parties involved in the project’s development, including partners from Japan through INPEX, Petronas from Malaysia, and the national energy company Pertamina. He emphasised that the government desires investment cooperation based on mutual benefit, where investors earn profits while the project provides maximum benefits to the Indonesian people. The Abadi LNG project, developed by INPEX Masela Ltd. in partnership with Pertamina and Petronas, has an investment value of approximately $20.9 billion. The government projects that it will become one of the largest energy industry hubs in eastern Indonesia, strengthening national energy security and driving economic growth in the region.