Tanimbar, Maluku, July 16 -- The Indonesian government will allocate the majority share of natural gas from the Abadi Masela LNG project to fuel the domestic economy, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced.

"At least 60 percent of the gas will be used to meet domestic needs, and a maximum of 40 percent will be exported," Bahlil said during the project's groundbreaking ceremony in Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku, on Thursday.

To secure this domestic supply, three major state-owned enterprises (SOEs)-national electricity firm PLN, state gas company PGN and fertilizer producer Pupuk Indonesia-have signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) as primary off-takers.

Bahlil stated that a portion of the domestic gas all...