Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation and Chinese partners have completed an IDR177.99 billion (USD9.91 million) expansion project at Maleo Airport in Morowali, Central Sulawesi. The project was delivered through a grant from PT Zhenshi Indonesia Industrial Park, with the Ministry of Transportation signing the grant agreement and handover documents with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the project strengthens Indonesia’s transport infrastructure while supporting the country’s industrial development.
The airport expansion includes the reconfiguration of the runway strip and Runway End Safety Area (RESA), ground improvement using the CFG Pile method, a 300-metre runway extension to a width of 30 metres, construction of a new aircraft turning area, installation of airside security fencing, and upgraded runway markings. The works cover a total area of 54,011.95 square metres. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will now undertake a second phase involving runway pavement strengthening, apron expansion, and the installation of additional navigation and visual aid systems to enable the airport to accommodate larger aircraft while maintaining aviation safety and operational standards.
The upgraded airport is intended to support Morowali’s rapidly expanding mineral processing and manufacturing industries by improving passenger and cargo connectivity across Central Sulawesi. The project also reflects broader Indonesia-China cooperation in the aviation sector, following the 17th ASEAN-China Working Group on Regional Air Services Arrangements (ACWG-RASA) held in Yogyakarta in July 2026. Indonesia also reiterated its request for China’s support for its bid to secure a seat on the ICAO Council.
