Carbon capture - A transformative business for Indonesia

CCS can have significant flow-on effects for Indonesia’s economy.
CCS won’t just help reduce industrial emissions in Indonesia, it will also support the continued growth of the country’s heavy industry.
Indonesia has the opportunity to become a leader in a new industry.

News

3 min read

• April 3, 2025

A carbon capture and storage (CCS) business in Indonesia could create a chain reaction of growth opportunities, ExxonMobil Indonesia President Carole Gall says.

CCS is building momentum in Indonesia. The country is paving the way to become a major CCS regional hub, reaping the benefits of this industry. CCS consists of capturing CO₂ that would have been otherwise released into the atmosphere and transporting it to sites with the right geology – like Indonesia – where it can be stored deep underground, safely and permanently.

There are many pathways to net-zero. The vast majority of pathways indicate the importance of CCS to decarbonize industries while continuing to meet energy demand and grow economies.

“CCS enables hard-to-abate industries like cement, steel and manufacturing to continue to thrive. Those industries are essential to our everyday lives. For a country like Indonesia with great economic growth potential and a growing population, CCS is particularly important to reconcile growth and environmental ambitions.”

Carole Gall
ExxonMobil Indonesia President

Calling it a transformative industry with a large “multiplier effect”, Carole says CCS can help Indonesia boost the economy, continue to grow and lift the standard of living.

“It’s important for all of us to understand the multiplier effect of CCS. By having CCS in Indonesia, we won’t just help reduce emissions, but we will also bring new industries, businesses, and investments to the country,” Carole says.

People power

One of Indonesia’s key advantages is its people. ExxonMobil, with its 125 years in the archipelago, can attest to the wealth of experience and talent in Indonesia. Today more than 95% of ExxonMobil’s employees in the country are Indonesian.

“Our Indonesian operations are for the most part run by Indonesian employees who demonstrate outstanding capabilities and skills. Our engineers, geoscientists, commercial minds and operations workforce are second-to-none. Their skills can be leveraged not only to provide the energy that Indonesia needs but also to reduce emissions.”

CCS, just like the oil and gas industry, requires high safety and environmental standards. For this, Indonesia is also well-positioned. “ExxonMobil in Indonesia has been the gold standard when it comes to safety and environmental performance. Nothing is more important. It is our people who make the difference. We care for one another, and we care for the environment.”

A collaborative approach

ExxonMobil is partnering with Indonesian state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina on a CCS hub opportunity in Indonesia called Asri. The Asri CCS opportunity may offer a storage capacity of several gigatonnes of captured CO₂ from around the region.

ExxonMobil and Pertamina are working collaboratively to progress the Asri CCS hub, with great support and leadership from Indonesia on the regulatory framework.

“Indonesia is making significant strides developing the regulations needed to govern the CCS activities in Indonesia. We are grateful for the collaborative approach adopted by the government, seeking input from the industry.”

Carole adds “It is truly exciting to have the opportunity to work collaboratively on transformative opportunities helping lift people’s standard of living. We are continuing to meet society energy needs and we are paving the way on emission reductions.”

ExxonMobil Indonesia