RRI.CO.ID, Tokyo - Against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical instability in the Middle East, Indonesia and Japan have reached a high-level consensus to accelerate the development of the Abadi Gas Field in the Masela Block, in Maluku.

The strategic push for the Maluku-based project comes as a direct response to the need for secured energy corridors during the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The Head of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas), Djoko Siswanto, confirmed the breakthrough from Jakarta on Monday, March 30, 2026.

"Yes, all parties have agreed to an acceleration," said Djoko, noting that the progress of the USD 20 billion investment remains on a positive trajectory.

As reported by Antara, the agreement was a focal point of President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Japan, where he was accompanied by Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. ESDM spokesperson, Dwi Anggia, emphasized that the Minister's presence was vital to ensuring that diplomatic energy opportunities are immediately translated into concrete agreements, particularly to bolster national energy security during global supply shifts.

This diplomatic momentum follows a critical meeting between Minister Bahlil and Inpex Corporation CEO Takayuki Ueda earlier this month. The project, which is already 25 percent complete, is envisioned as a transformative economic engine for Eastern Indonesia and a primary gas source for the nation's future industrial needs.

Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir, hailed the deal as a historic milestone. The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo is now committed to facilitating the schedule so that the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase can conclude by the third quarter of 2026. This timeline is essential to meet the ultimate production target of 2029–2030.

To further condense the timeline, Minister Bahlil has expressed a strong desire to advance the FEED stage to the second quarter of 2026. He noted that this acceleration would allow for (Engineering Procurement Construction) EPC tenders to be conducted in parallel, significantly reducing the lead time for this major deep-water gas project. ***