Prabowo: Masela Project Must Run Well and Be Mutually Beneficial

President Prabowo Subianto has stressed that the Abadi Masela National Strategic Project (PSN) LNG must be executed as well as possible based on the principle of mutual benefit, so that the project can provide returns for investors while fulfilling the state’s responsibility to the people. “As President of the Republic of Indonesia, as the recipient of the mandate from the Indonesian people, I once again emphasise, run this project as well as possible on the basis of mutual benefit,” Prabowo said in his remarks during the virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the Abadi Masela LNG Project from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday.

The President stated that the project, which has been in the development process for nearly three decades, needs to be managed properly so that all parties benefit. The government, Prabowo said, appreciates the Japanese partner, INPEX Corporation, which is involved in the project, and stressed the importance of creating a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship. According to him, investors who put capital into the Abadi Masela LNG project must also make a profit. The Indonesian government upholds its honour as a partner that can provide certainty and satisfaction to investors.

“Investors must profit. Once again, as a nation with self-respect and honour, we are ashamed if our partners are not satisfied, if our partners lose money, if our partners are not happy,” Prabowo said. Nevertheless, the President stressed that the government also has a great responsibility towards the Indonesian people who are still facing various economic difficulties. Prabowo assessed that energy from the Abadi Masela LNG project is needed to support the nation’s transformation into a modern and productive country and to strengthen national industrial development.

The groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of one of the largest energy investments in Indonesia’s history, as well as an important milestone in strengthening national energy security and promoting equitable development up to the eastern region of Indonesia. The Abadi Masela LNG project is being developed by INPEX Masela Ltd. together with Pertamina and Petronas, with an investment value of approximately US$20.9 billion. The facility is designed to have a production capacity of 9.5 million tonnes of LNG per year, supply 150 million standard cubic feet per day of domestic pipeline gas, and produce around 35,000 barrels of condensate per day. As of early July 2026, Front End Engineering Design progress had reached 79.56 percent, exceeding the target, while the completion of various strategic permits and facility design continues towards a Final Investment Decision at the end of 2026. The government also projects the Abadi Masela LNG plant to become one of the largest energy industry centres in eastern Indonesia, expected to encourage the growth of supporting industries, expand business opportunities for MSMEs, and create jobs prioritising local workers from Maluku and the Tanimbar Islands Regency. In addition to strengthening national energy security, the Abadi Masela LNG project is the first LNG project in Indonesia to integrate Carbon Capture and Storage technology from the development stage as part of efforts to support the national energy transition.