Ecobiz.asia — INPEX Corporation has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate development of the Abadi Masela Gas Project after the giant offshore gas project secured several key permits from the Indonesia government, including environmental approval and a forest area release permit.
The commitment was conveyed by INPEX Chief Executive Officer Takayuki Ueda during a meeting with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday (March 15, 2026).
“Thank you for the government’s support and commitment to this project. INPEX has a strong commitment to accelerate the realization of the Abadi Masela Project,” Ueda said.
He noted that the project has been a major focus for the company for more than a decade.
“I have personally been involved with the Abadi project for about 12 years. After discussing with the minister, we are even more motivated to accelerate the completion of this project,” he said.
The gas project, located in the Arafura Sea, is estimated to require an investment of around $20 billion, with development progress currently reaching about 25%, according to the company.
On the regulatory side, the project recorded important milestones earlier this year. The environmental impact assessment (AMDAL) was approved on Feb. 13, 2026, while the forest area release permit was issued by the Ministry of Forestry in January 2026.
With these key approvals secured, the project is expected to proceed to the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) stage in the second quarter of 2026 or no later than the third quarter.
The Indonesian government has been encouraging faster progress to prevent further delays after more than two decades of project development.
The Abadi Masela field is designed to produce around 9 million tons of liquefied natural gas per year, positioning it as one of Indonesia’s major future gas supply sources while supporting economic development in eastern Indonesia.
During the meeting, Bahlil also offered a potential domestic market support scheme if a main buyer for the project’s LNG output has not been secured by April 2026.
Under the proposal, gas supply from Masela could potentially be absorbed by state investment entity Danantara, including for downstream energy development programs.
The Abadi Masela project is widely regarded as one of Indonesia’s strategic energy projects aimed at strengthening national gas supply while supporting industrial development in the country’s eastern region. ***
