Indonesia announces major gas discovery off Borneo

Indonesia has announced a significant natural gas discovery at the Geliga-1 well, located about 70 kilometers off the east coast of Borneo in East Kalimantan province. Preliminary estimates indicate around 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 300 million barrels of oil equivalent condensate, marking one of the country’s largest finds in recent years. The discovery was made by Italian energy company Eni.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia described the find as extraordinary and said it would strengthen Indonesia’s energy security. The announcement comes amid global energy uncertainty following conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for energy supplies to Asia. Indonesia currently imports about 60 percent of its fuel needs, including a significant share from the Middle East.

The government expects production to rise substantially by 2028 and 2030, with output potentially sufficient to power up to 30 million homes at peak levels. Officials say the new reservoir will help reduce gas and crude imports, boost state revenue, and enhance the country’s geopolitical position by prioritizing domestic supply before exports. Indonesia held 33.8 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves in 2024, according to data from the United States Energy Information Administration.