Government Decides to Develop Masela Block Onshore

President Jokowi, accompanied by a number of ministers, delivers a press statement on Masela Block at Supadio Airport, Pontianak, Wednesday (23/3)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has decided to develop gas-rich Masela Block, which is located in South East Maluku Regency, Maluku Province, onshore.

The President announced the decision to reporters at Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Wednesday (23/3) and said that the decision is based on many considerations and inputs.

President Jokowi also reminded that it is a long-time project – not only one, two, ten or fifteen years – and involves hundreds of trillion of rupiah.

“Therefore, based on the calculations that I have made, we have decided to build it onshore,” the President said.

Specifically, President Jokowi added that the decision is based on two considerations; first, the Government hopes that the block will bring benefits to both regional and national economy; and second it also hopes that the block will also bring benefits to regional development.

“After this decision is made, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and Head of the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Task Force (SKK Migas) will follow up the decision,” the President added. 

Accompanying the President on the occasion were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of ESDM Sudirman Said, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Head of SKK Migas Amin Sunaryadi. (UN/ES) (Naster/YM/EP)