Jakarta, April 9 -- Construction of Indonesia's first melamine plant has begun in the Gresik Special Economic Zone (SEZ), East Java, with an investment of US$600 million.

The project, developed by PT GEABH Joint Technology, is part of natural gas downstream development.

Under the project, natural gas will be processed into liquid ammonia and further developed into derivative products such as urea, melamine, and ammonium nitrate.

"We are witnessing an important milestone in Indonesia's industrial journey with the groundbreaking of the country's first and largest melamine plant," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Thursday.

He said the products are expected to support strategic sectors such as agricult...