TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is committed to local participation in the Abadi LNG Project in the Masela Block, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia. The project aims to have 30 percent of its workforce from Maluku, specifically the Tanimbar Islands Regency.
Apart from job creation, Bahlil believes the project will stimulate the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as supporting industries in the surrounding area. "Beyond the economic and fiscal benefits, the Abadi Masela Project will also drive the growth of supporting industries and MSMEs in Maluku and accelerate the development of regional infrastructure," Bahlil said in a statement on Friday, July 17, 2026.
This commitment was conveyed by Bahlil during the groundbreaking of the construction of the Abadi Project processing facility in Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku, on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
The government targets the project worth US$20.9 billion, or around Rp342 trillion, to become one of the drivers of economic growth in Maluku through job creation, investment inflow, and increased economic activities in the region, as well as strengthening national energy security.
The project is projected to contribute approximately US$137.8 billion to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Meanwhile, its contribution to the Regional Gross Domestic Product (PDRB) is estimated to reach US$95 billion for the Province of Maluku and US$92 billion for the Tanimbar Islands Regency.
The Abadi LNG project is one of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) in the energy sector. The gas field is located in the Masela Working Area, Arafura Sea, approximately 750 kilometers south of Ambon, with the field location around 12 miles from the nearest island and at a sea depth of 400-800 meters. The project is operated by INPEX Masela Ltd., a subsidiary of the INPEX Corporation, and its entire working area is in Indonesian waters, including those bordering Australia.
Read: Masela LNG Project to Draw US$21 Billion Investment, Indonesia Says
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