President Jokowi Decides to Build Masela Block Onshore

President Jokowi beats a drum to mark the inauguration of Merah Putih Bridge (4/4)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo admitted that he had listened to the voices of people when deciding to build Masela Block gas field, which is the world’s biggest gas reserves, onshore.

“I had assigned intelligence services to listen to people’s voice in Maluku and they want it to be conducted onshore,” the President said when delivering his remarks in the inauguration of Merah Putih Bridge in Ambon, Maluku, on 4 April 2016.

The President asserted that the construction of large-scale infrastructure, such as Masela Block project, must bring significant benefits to its surrounding areas. Considering those points, the President decided to conduct management of Masela Block onshore. The President said if the gas field is built onshore, it will make the monitoring of the construction easier compared to that offshore gas field.

The President emphasized on the preparation of territorial design. The President took an example of the project in Bontang where the location turns into an enclave that grows outside its own environment. “Even if the construction is being conducted onshore but the design is poor, the result will be bad as well. Meanwhile, if it is conducted offshore, the location will turn into a super enclave and the people will only be able to see it from a distance.

Hovewer, the President added, based on investors’ point of view, they will be delighted if the construction is conducted offshore. On the other hand, based on regional development, Masela Block will bring great multiplier effect if it is conducted onshore.

The President hopes Moluccas young generation could play roles in managing Masela Block once the construction finished in 2024, particularly to participate in human resources sector.

“The construction is projected to be finished in 8 years. The human resources must be dominated by the Moluccas. Do not make my persistence to materialize onshore construction become useless because at the end human resources of this gas field will come from outside Maluku,” the President said.

The President instructed Minister of Technology, Research and Higher Education to prepare some experts on oil and gas from Pattimura University so that skilled labors will be ready in the next 4-5 years. “I ordered Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education to prepare Ambon Polytechnic and Pattimura University. Please be prepared for this project, so that there is no reason we are lacking of human resources. Start to count it from now, if they need 1,000 people, prepare 2,000 instead,” the President concluded. (TKP/ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)