JAKARTA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is accelerating preparations for the operation of the onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) refinery in the Masela Block, Maluku province, eastern Indonesia, which has now entered the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Yuliot Tanjung said Thursday that the project, with an investment value of 20.94 billion U.S. dollars, is scheduled to begin production in 2029.
The Masela LNG Project is expected to employ about 12,611 workers during its development stage and around 850 workers once operations begin.
"We invite all partners to make this momentum a joint step in accelerating the project. The Masela Gas Field can start production in 2029 for the sake of national energy sustainability and public welfare," Tanjung said at the LNG Project FEED commencement ceremony in Jakarta on Thursday.
He noted that the Masela Block is projected to produce 9.5 million tons of LNG annually, 150 million cubic feet of pipeline gas per day, and around 35,000 barrels of oil condensate per day.
"This natural gas production is expected to reduce dependence on energy imports while strengthening the competitiveness of the national industry," Tanjung added.
The Masela LNG Project is among Indonesia's strategic initiatives, aligned with President Prabowo Subianto's vision of achieving energy self-sufficiency. ■