Tycoon Hashim Djojohadikusumo’s Arsari Group Wins the Natuna D-Alpha Gas Block

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — The Indonesian government has officially selected business entities affiliated with prominent tycoon Hashim Djojohadikusumo—the brother of President Prabowo Subianto—as winners in the latest competitive licensing round for offshore oil and gas assets. Through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the government unveiled the winning consortiums for the 2025 Joint Study Direct Offer and Regular Auction Phase I of 2026. Arsari Group, owned by Hashim, clinched the coveted Natuna D-Alpha Working Area via upstream operating unit PT Nations Petroleum through a direct offer bidding framework. Under official tender disclosures published by the energy ministry, PT Nations Petroleum pledged a definitive firm commitment of $103.3 million for the first three years of upstream operations, accompanied by a $200,000 cash signature bonus.

Natuna D-Alpha represents one of Southeast Asia's largest undeveloped offshore gas structures, long held back by exceptionally high carbon dioxide levels requiring complex carbon capture and deep-sea engineering. The commercial entry of Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who is the younger brother of President Prabowo, underscores a major mobilization of domestic capital with close ties to the administration into critical energy infrastructure. By pairing massive exploration commitments with carbon capture studies, domestic groups are taking the lead in reviving stalled hydrocarbon reserves to arrest long-term national production declines.

Extensive Exploration and Carbon Study Pledges

The binding three-year exploration blueprint submitted by Nations Petroleum encompasses three Geological and Geophysical (G&G) study packages, alongside the acquisition and processing of 3D seismic data covering an area of 591 square kilometers (228.19 square miles). The developer's work plan also incorporates one pilot unit design and engineering program, three integrated carbon dioxide study packages, one manufacturing, procurement, and construction package, and two Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) design cost programs. To evaluate commercial hydrocarbon reservoirs, the group has committed to drilling one appraisal well and one exploration well, supported by a specialized operations package for multi-mode testing and monitoring.

Offering oil and gas working areas represents part of the government's aggressive campaign to accelerate exploration and unlock discoveries of fresh oil and gas reserves, the Ministry of ESDM stated in an official release on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. The ministry added that expanding these reserves is anticipated to sustain national oil and gas production while meeting future domestic energy needs. The awards were formalized under Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 108.K/MG.4/DJM/2026, executed on Sept. 17, 2026.

Global Majors Secure Key Concessions

Across both direct offer and regular bidding procedures, the ministry confirmed winning operators for six separate working blocks: Sapukala, Natuna D-Alpha, Bengara II, Pesut Mahakam, Puri, and Rupat. The Sapukala Working Area was awarded to Italian energy major Eni Indonesia Limited. Eni's firm commitment for the initial three-year phase totals $8 million, consisting of $500,000 for two G&G study packages and $7.5 million for 3D seismic data acquisition and processing across 1,500 square kilometers (579.15 square miles), paired with a $200,000 signature bonus. Sinopec International Energy Investment (HK) Holdings Limited captured the Bengara II Working Area, committing $16.5 million, which allocates $1.5 million for three G&G studies, $5 million to execute 100 square kilometers (38.61 square miles) of 3D seismic work, and $10 million to drill an exploration well, backed by a $300,000 signature bonus.

Domestic operator PT Timur Hijau Investama secured two working blocks during the licensing round. For the Pesut Mahakam block, the firm pledged a commitment of $7.40 million covering three G&G study packages valued at $350,000 and 235.1 square kilometers (90.77 square miles) of 3D seismic activity worth $7.05 million, alongside a $300,000 signature bonus. For the Puri block, the company submitted a commitment of $3.35 million spanning three G&G studies costing $350,000 and 200 kilometers (124.27 miles) of 2D seismic lines valued at $3 million, also backed by a $300,000 signature bonus.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Cinda Energy Limited won the Rupat Working Area with a firm commitment of $2.95 million, comprising $450,000 across three G&G studies and $2.5 million for a single exploration well, alongside a $300,000 signature bonus. In aggregate, the six working areas generated $141.51 million in binding three-year exploration pledges and $1.6 million in direct signature bonuses for the state treasury. The government expressed appreciation to all winning bidders for their participation, noting that it expects each operator to fully realize all established commitments in upstream exploration execution under prevailing statutory regulations.