Good News from SKK Migas Head Djoko Siswanto: The Giant Masela Gas Project Will Soon Break Ground, Worth Over USD 20 Billion
GAS INDUSTRY NEWS
Godang (Ruang Energi)
3/16/2026
A breath of fresh air has been blowing for the development of Indonesia's giant gas project. Djoko Siswanto, Head of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas), announced that the Masela project, valued at approximately US$20 billion, is nearing its implementation stage.
In a report released on Sunday (March 15, 2026), Djoko revealed that the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, had held a crucial meeting with Takayuki Ueda, President Director of INPEX Corporation, in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting specifically discussed accelerating the implementation of the Abadi Masela Project, one of the largest LNG projects currently under development in Indonesia.
According to Djoko, discussions between the Indonesian government and the project operator have been positive. Both parties affirmed their commitment to advancing the project to the groundbreaking stage once key local processes are completed.
"The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and the President Director of Inpex have completed discussions on the Masela project in Tokyo. The investment value is approximately USD 20 billion, and the groundbreaking is planned to take place after the community compensation is finalized," said Djoko, as told to ruangenergi.com on Sunday (March 15, 2026).
The issue of community compensation is indeed a crucial stage in the development of this project. The government and the operator ensure that the rights of the community in the project area must be resolved before physical construction begins.
The Abadi LNG Masela Project itself is a national strategic project in the gas sector, located in the Masela Block, Maluku. This field is estimated to hold massive gas reserves and will be a crucial source of LNG supply for Indonesia in the future.
In addition to its potential to strengthen national energy security, this project is also projected to have a significant economic impact on eastern Indonesia, ranging from infrastructure development, job creation, and increased activity in the gas-derived industry.
With an investment value reaching tens of billions of US dollars, Masela is also one of the largest upstream oil and gas projects that the government is pushing to enter the construction phase soon.
If all stages go according to plan, the groundbreaking for the Masela project will be a new milestone for the revival of Indonesian upstream oil and gas investment in the next few years.
A breath of fresh air has been blowing for the development of Indonesia's giant gas project. Djoko Siswanto, Head of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas), announced that the Masela project, valued at approximately US$20 billion, is nearing its implementation stage.
In a report released on Sunday (March 15, 2026), Djoko revealed that the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, had held a crucial meeting with Takayuki Ueda, President Director of INPEX Corporation, in Tokyo, Japan. The meeting specifically discussed accelerating the implementation of the Abadi Masela Project, one of the largest LNG projects currently under development in Indonesia.
According to Djoko, discussions between the Indonesian government and the project operator have been positive. Both parties affirmed their commitment to advancing the project to the groundbreaking stage once key local processes are completed.
"The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and the President Director of Inpex have completed discussions on the Masela project in Tokyo. The investment value is approximately USD 20 billion, and the groundbreaking is planned to take place after the community compensation is finalized," said Djoko, as told to ruangenergi.com on Sunday (March 15, 2026).
The issue of community compensation is indeed a crucial stage in the development of this project. The government and the operator ensure that the rights of the community in the project area must be resolved before physical construction begins.
The Abadi LNG Masela Project itself is a national strategic project in the gas sector, located in the Masela Block, Maluku. This field is estimated to hold massive gas reserves and will be a crucial source of LNG supply for Indonesia in the future.
In addition to its potential to strengthen national energy security, this project is also projected to have a significant economic impact on eastern Indonesia, ranging from infrastructure development, job creation, and increased activity in the gas-derived industry.
With an investment value reaching tens of billions of US dollars, Masela is also one of the largest upstream oil and gas projects that the government is pushing to enter the construction phase soon.
If all stages go according to plan, the groundbreaking for the Masela project will be a new milestone for the revival of Indonesian upstream oil and gas investment in the next few years.
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