Eni announces the start-up of gas production from the Maha field in the Kutei Basin, offshore Indonesia, just 21 months after the final investment decision (FID).
Located in the West Ganal block at a water depth of approximately 1,000 m, the field comprises two subsea production wells connected to the existing Jangkrik Floating Production Unit (FPU) by approximately 12 km of flowlines. Following initial processing onboard the FPU, the gas will be transported through the pipeline network to supply the domestic market and the Bontang liquefaction plant, which supplies LNG to both domestic and export markets.
The field can produce 250 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), bringing combined production from the Jangkrik FPU and the South Hub to a plateau of 750 MMSCFD. The Gendalo & Gendang project’s expected start-up and tie-in to the Jangkrik FPU in 2028 will extend this plateau beyond the end of the decade.
The Maha gas field, now operated by Searah, the independent upstream energy company established through the strategic partnership between Eni and PETRONAS, marks a further milestone in the development of Eni’s activities in Indonesia’s Kutei Basin and reflects the company’s expertise in exploration and fast-track project delivery.
Together with the final investment decisions announced in March 2026 for the North Hub (Geng North & Gehem) and South Hub (Gendalo & Gendang) projects, the timely execution and start-up of production at Maha, following the start-up of Merakes East in May 2025, underscore Eni’s broader strategy to efficiently develop the gas resources discovered in Indonesia’s prolific Kutei Basin, supporting the nation’s long-term energy security and export capacity.
Maha is a key component of the South Hub development and the monetization of Indonesia’s offshore gas resources.
These results reflect the close cooperation and shared objectives of all stakeholders involved, including Searah, its shareholders, and SKK Migas, Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator.
Eni directly operates the Peri-Mahakam PSC, the Makassar Strait PSC and the recently awarded Sapukala block. In October 2026, Eni also signed two binding agreements to sell interests to Pertamina and Medco in selected Indonesian upstream assets operated by Searah.
Established in June 2026, Searah is jointly owned by Eni and PETRONAS, each holding a 50% interest. The company combines complementary portfolios, capabilities and regional expertise to deliver long-term value creation and operational excellence across Indonesia and Malaysia. Its portfolio comprises 19 gas-producing and development assets, including 14 in Indonesia and 5 in Malaysia. Searah currently produces approximately 350 kboe/d and aims to exceed 500 kboe/d of sustainable production by 2028.
Source: Eni
