Royal Dutch Shell Public Company Limited has received the government’s approval to open geological data on the gas-rich Masela block in Maluku to potential buyers, marking its first step in divesting the asset. The company is expected to divest the block over a period of 18 months, while the block’s lead operator, Japan’s INPEX Corporation, and SKK Migas will focus on developing the nationally strategic Abadi gas project within the block by 2027. Currently, Shell holds a 35 per cent share in the block’s operations, while the balance 65 per cent share lies with INPEX.
