Indonesia inaugurates petrochemical plant in Banten Province

Lotte Chemical Indonesia plant is expected to stimulate downstream industrial growth, improve the trade balance, and give positive impact to people in surrounding areas.

 

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated  Lotte Chemical Indonesia (LCI) plant in Cilegon City, Banten Province, on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

The inauguration ceremony marked the start of one of the petrochemical industry projects, a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen the downstream sector of the national industry, the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat said on its website, as quoted by Indonesia Window on Friday.

On that occasion, President Prabowo expressed his appreciation for the development of this strategic project and encouraged support for investments that could provide mutual benefits.

“We are honored to be partners with anyone. Especially when foreign partners come to us to invest their money, which they have painstakingly earned for decades. They trust us. Here, they benefit us, and we must safeguard it,” the President said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia reported that the strategic project has an investment value of 3.9 billion US dollars, making it one of the largest petrochemical investments in Southeast Asia.

At the plant, naphtha (a key raw material in the petrochemical industry) is processed into upstream and downstream products, which then become essential raw materials for manufacturing products ranging from plastic bottles and cables to car bumpers.

Lotte Chemical Indonesia plant is expected to stimulate downstream industrial growth, improve the trade balance, and positively impact people in the surrounding areas.

“With this plant, we will no longer import heavily like in previous years. 70 percent is import substitution, and 30 percent is exported. The total value, revenue, and annual sales are two billion US dollars. So, we keep 1.4-1.5 billion dollars here, and we export the rest,” Bahlil noted.

Present at the LCI inauguration were Acting Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Indonesia Park Soo Deok, ministers of the Red and White cabinet, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Banten Province’s Governor Andra Soni, Cilegon Mayor Robinsar, and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong Bin.

Reporting by Indonesia Window