Highlighting The Fate Of 58 PSN, DPR Encourages The Government To Prioritize Masela Blocks And Semarang-Demak Toll Roads

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives in charge of financial affairs and national development planning reminded the Government to prepare a scenario for the completion of 58 National Strategic Projects (PSN) in the infrastructure sector. With the commitment to completion from the Government, it is hoped that the community will soon feel the benefits.

"The government needs to take quick and appropriate action to save strategic projects so that they can provide benefits to the community," said Member of Commission XI of the DPR, Willy Aditya, Thursday, August 3.

58 PSN with an investment value of IDR 470 trillion is threatened with stalled because it is not expected to be completed until the end of the 2024 government period. For this reason, Willy hopes that the Government can choose which projects must be included in the priority scale.

"This means that the Government must set a clear target and maintain public trust so that several projects can still be completed by 2024 through a priority scale," he explained.

Willy added that strategic steps are needed to shift priorities starting from the biggest impact on the community.

"Finish projects that play a role in supporting economic growth and development first. And those that also create job space for the wider community to support improving the economy and national welfare," said Willy.

One of the projects that Willy is concerned about is the construction of the Masela Block, which is located in West Maluku Regency. The Masela Block, which will become the largest oil and gas field in Indonesia, is one of President Jokowi's mainstay PSN. Willy warned that the project will continue to be realized until the end of 2024.

"Since the approval of the 2019 POD (plan of development), the President has always hoped that the construction of the Masela Block will be completed in 2024 which will have a significant impact on the needs of oil and gas for the people of Indonesia," said the Deputy Chairman of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR.

Blok Masela is one of the largest oil and gas field prospects in Indonesia. Its production is estimated to reach 1,600 million cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of gas or equivalent to 9.5 million tons of LNG per year (mtpa) and 150 MMscfd pipe gas, as well as 35.000 barrels of condensate per day (bcpd).

In addition, Willy hopes that the Government will include the Semarang-Demak toll road project on a priority scale. So that the completion of the project can be realized by the end of 2024.

"The Semarang-Demak toll road must be one of the priority projects being accelerated by the Government, because this project also functions as a giant sea wall (Ocean sea embankment) capable of tackling the existence of Pantura abrasion and annual tidal flooding," explained Willy.

On the other hand, the East Java XI electoral district legislator appreciates the evaluation plan that will be carried out by the Government regarding 58 PSN targeted for completion in 2024. Willy hopes that most of them can be completed on time, even if some are threatened with delays.

"I support the evaluation steps from the Government regarding the fate of 58 PSN. So prioritize the priority scale, by prioritizing those that do not depend on the state budget in the sustainability of the project but the community still feels the benefits," he explained.