President Prabowo Subianto has publicly addressed the recent discovery of a massive offshore gas field in Indonesia by Mubadala Energy, an energy company based in Abu Dhabi. The field, located in the Andaman Sea near Aceh, is estimated to hold up to 10 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas, making it one of the largest discoveries in Southeast Asia in decades.
“This might be the biggest field in Southeast Asia in the last few decades. Reports estimate a potential of 10 TCF. It’s extraordinary. I believe by 2028–2029, we can aim for national energy self-sufficiency,” said Prabowo during the 2025 Indonesian Petroleum Association Convention and Exhibition (IPA Convex).
The discovery was made at the Tangkulo-1 deepwater exploration well, located in the South Andaman Block, approximately 65 kilometers off the northern coast of Sumatra. This marks Mubadala Energy’s second operated deepwater well in Indonesia, following its earlier discovery at Layaran-1, also in the South Andaman Block.
Drilled to a depth of 3.400 meters in 1.200 meters of water, Tangkulo-1 successfully flowed 47 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of high-quality gas and 1.300 barrels per day (bpd) of condensate. Despite limited testing due to facility constraints, the well’s estimated full capacity reaches up to 80–100 MMSCFD and over 2.000 bpd of condensate.
Mansoor Mohammed Al Hamed, CEO of Mubadala Energy, emphasized that this “game-changing” discovery, combined with the earlier Layaran-1 success, reinforces South Andaman as a globally significant gas play.
“This discovery represents a transformative moment for Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s energy landscape,” Mansoor stated. “With 80% working interest in the South Andaman Block, Mubadala holds the largest net offshore acreage in northern Sumatra.”
He added that Tangkulo-1 will serve as a strategic pillar in the company’s gas-centric development plan, opening new prospects in the southern part of the block and indicating multi-TCF gas potential in surrounding structures.
Mubadala Energy is currently collaborating closely with the Indonesian government and its partners to ensure timely development of the field, supporting the country’s long-term energy transition goals and organic upstream growth.