Prabowo commits to turning Indonesia into modern industrial nation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has declared the government’s firm commitment to transforming Indonesia into a modern, industrialized nation, leveraging the country’s vast natural resources to elevate the living standards of its citizens.

Speaking via video conference from the Merdeka Palace on Thursday, the President officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the multi-billion-dollar Abadi Masela national strategic LNG project, calling it a cornerstone of the nation’s economic evolution.

"We are determined to become an industrial nation, a modern nation, and we are determined that our people must live well and live decently," Prabowo said, adding that the country has both the natural and human resources to achieve this goal.

He emphasized that major strategic projects like the Abadi Masela LNG are crucial to funding public services, such as upgrading nationwide health services, improving welfare of teachers and civil servants as well as building modern infrastructure.

"The economy must be for the people, not the people for the economy," Prabowo stressed.

"All of this belongs to the people. Our responsibility is to ensure that the people feel the benefits,” he added.

Valued at an estimated US$20.9 billion, the Abadi Masela LNG project represents one of the largest energy investments in Indonesian history.

Developed by INPEX Masela Ltd. in partnership with state-owned Pertamina and Malaysia's Petronas, the mega-project is poised to become the economic anchor for eastern Indonesia.

The facility boasts an immense production design capacity, including 9.5 million tons of LNG per annum (MTPA), 150 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of domestic pipeline gas and roughly 35,000 barrels of condensate daily.

Beyond national energy security, the project is expected to ignite local economies in Maluku and the Tanimbar Islands Regency by expanding business opportunities for MSMEs and prioritizing local workers for new jobs.

The Abadi Masela initiative also marks a green milestone for the domestic energy sector, becoming the first LNG project in Indonesia to integrate Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology directly from its development stage to support the national energy transition.

The project is moving forward at an accelerated pace. As of early July 2026, Front End Engineering Design (FEED) progress stood ahead of schedule at 79.56 percent.

Bureaucratic permits and facility designs are currently being finalized as consortium partners push toward a Final Investment Decision (FID) by the end of 2026.

Related news: Indonesia launches US$20.9 billion Abadi Masela LNG Project

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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Primayanti

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