Latest news with #SarawakGasRoadmap
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Petros gears for more profits, jobs. Now nation's No. 3 player after Petronas and Shell within just seven years
Published on: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 19, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Joseph said the Kuching project would begin with LNG-to-power infrastructure followed by industrial park development and culminate in high-value manufacturing including low-carbon hydrogen for steel production and ammonia for fertilisers. KUCHING: Sarawak through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) is bent on creating more jobs and making sure bigger profits stay in the State by moving towards downstream processing instead of just pumping out raw oil and gas and selling them. 'For decades, Sarawak mostly just dug up raw materials and shipped them out … extract, export, repeat,' said Petros Senior Vice President of Growth Datuk Joseph Podtung. Advertisement 'There was not much processing of these materials or strong supporting businesses around them, which meant no ripple effect of economic benefits,' he said. The result, he said, has been shortened value chains, limited spin-offs and few high-income careers. 'Instead of continuing this approach, Petros is changing from simply producing large amounts of raw gas to focusing on creating products from it,' he said, citing turning natural gas into methanol, hydrogen and ammonia before advancing to more sophisticated manufacturing. 'We are not saying no to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). In fact LNG is important because it brings hard currency. It keeps our hub full. It makes Sarawak globally relevant. 'But, if we continue to export, we miss a far greater opportunity in industries, jobs and innovations that will eventually be created through domestic development that allow value chains to be created,' he said. 'Sarawak holds 60 per cent of Malaysia's total natural gas reserves and operates the cleanest electricity grid in the region at just 0.19 kg CO2 per kWh, primarily from hydroelectric power,' he said. 'Sarawak has all the inherent ingredients to unlock the low-carbon economy in this region. It is not just resource-rich, it is development-ready,' he added. He said the Sarawak Gas Roadmap, launched in 2021, is a 10-year strategic plan by the Sarawak Government led by Petros and centres on four development hubs across the State. 'In Miri, the first onshore gas drilling project in over 30 years is underway and a new 500-megawatt power plant is expected to be commissioned by 2027. 'Samalaju will benefit from a 65km pipeline from Bintulu due for completion by year-end, while Bintulu's petrochemical hub has already begun operations with a methanol plant,' he said. Additionally, he said Petros is planning a low-carbon industrial hub through a three-wave approach. 'Currently, Kuching lacks pipeline gas infrastructure, relying instead on diesel and imported LPG. 'Can you imagine, in the capital of an energy-rich State, Kuching has no pipeline gas. 'Without action now, Kuching may not be able to shape the low-carbon economy in Sarawak and beyond,' he said. He said the Kuching project would begin with LNG-to-power infrastructure followed by industrial park development and culminate in high-value manufacturing including low-carbon hydrogen for steel production and ammonia for fertilisers. He pointed out that Petros has secured two anchor partners – China Jiangsu International and Sumitomo Corporation – selected from over 300 candidates. 'These two anchor partners have vast experience in developing industrial parks, not only domestically but internationally. Together, we are not building a facility, we are building an ecosystem.' He said the economic impact is substantial, pointing out that at full scale, the Sarawak Gas Roadmap is expected to deliver RM300 billion in investment, generate RM120 billion in annual output, comparable to the projected Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and create 180,000 jobs. 'This is about leverage, turning our resources into hydrogen, methanol and ammonia, into high-value manufacturing that produces advanced materials and low-carbon products. 'In doing so, we keep the economic value of energy circulating within our own economy, not just extracting, but multiplying,' he said. He pointed out that Petros, which was established in 2017, is now Malaysia's third-largest oil producer after Petronas and Shell and has already invested RM15 billion in the roadmap across various projects. 'Sarawak is not speculating. We are executing. We have the ingredients, the roadmap and momentum. Our strategy is about moving from volume to value and from resource to resilience,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak must move beyond upstream O&G, says Petros VP
Joseph says Sarawak's shallow industrial base limits the state's economic resilience because it relies heavily on primary sector activities. – Bernama photo KUCHING (July 16): Sarawak has yet to tap its full potential in the oil and gas sector as the focus remains largely on upstream activities, said Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) Senior Vice President of Growth, Datuk Joseph Podtung. He said Sarawak's shallow industrial base limits the state's economic resilience because it relies heavily on primary sector activities. 'Extract, export, repeat. That's the cycle. No strong mid or downstream development, no supporting service ecosystem, and no multiplier effect. 'If we keep exporting, we miss out on far greater opportunities. Developing domestic industries will create value chains, jobs and innovations. That is how we build long-term resilience. 'This is not about choosing between LNG and domestic use. It's about unlocking more. More for Sarawak's own use. More retained value. More future-proofing. 'It benefits not just Sarawak, but Malaysia as a whole. We are shifting from a volume mindset to a value mindset,' he said during the plenary session titled Sarawak Gas Roadmap: Unlocking the Potential of Natural Gas for a Sustainable Future at International Energy Week 2025 held here on Tuesday. Joseph added that natural gas is the key for Petros to move downstream, develop hydrogen, and power new industries across Sarawak. He outlined four regional hubs as part of the Sarawak Gas Roadmap, each with its own role in expanding the state's energy ecosystem. In Miri, onshore gas drilling resumes after 30 years, alongside a 500-megawatt power plant due by 2027. In Samalaju, the Bintulu-Samalaju pipeline, set to complete this year, will power heavy industries. Bintulu is advancing downstream with a methanol plant already running. However, in Kuching, he highlighted that despite being the capital of an energy-rich state, it has no pipelines and still depends on imported liquified petroleum gas and fossil diesel. 'Without action now, Kuching risks being left behind in the shift to a low-carbon economy. But Kuching has what matters, access to clean power, liveability that attracts talent, and proximity to 30 per cent of global maritime trade,' he said. Joseph said Kuching's low-carbon development will take place in three waves. The first wave will see the LNG-to-power project begin. LNG will be delivered via a floating storage and regasification unit and a subsea pipeline, supplying gas to a new combined cycle power plant. This will provide reliable, low-carbon electricity for Kuching and the wider Borneo region. The second wave builds on this foundation by developing a low-carbon industrial park to attract high-value industries. These include low-carbon petrochemicals, hydrogen clusters and digital sectors. 'And the final phase will transform Kuching's low-carbon hub into a global destination for investment, focusing on high-value added downstream products, such as low-carbon hydrogen for steel manufacturing, and low-carbon ammonia for fertilisers and other specialty chemicals,' he said. He also revealed that a global master planner will be appointed to develop the master plan for the Kuching Low-Carbon Hub and Deep Sea Port. Petros has previously secured two anchor partners, China Jiangsu International and Sumitomo Corporation to provide capital, capabilities and global investor networks to develop the Kuching Low-Carbon Industrial Hub. 'By anchoring demand in Kuching, it opens the need to further develop offshore resources. We have a demand-led pathway to unlock the untapped reserves of Western Sarawak, both natural gas and the CCS development,' he said. At its full scale, the SGR is expected to attract RM300 billion in investments and generate RM120 billion in annual output, which he said is close to what the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone is projected to produce at RM125 billion. downstream oil and gas Petros Sarawak
Borneo Post
15-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Uggah: More STEM education initiatives for Bukit Saban students
Uggah (seated, fourth right) with the students after the presentation. KUCHING (June 15): More initiatives will be introduced to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education among students in the Bukit Saban constituency, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. Uggah, who is also the Bukit Saban assemblyman, said the emphasis on STEM is timely given the growing demand for technical and professional talent, particularly in engineering, technology, and accounting. 'With Sarawak advancing into new economic sectors like the hydrogen economy, the aerospace industry, new airport development, and the Sarawak Gas Roadmap programme, we will certainly require more skilled manpower in these areas. 'Potential investors looking at Sarawak will also assess our ability to provide the necessary talent pool,' he added during a presentation ceremony of his annual study incentives to 12 undergraduates and six diploma students from his constituency here today in which a similar presentation will be held in Spaoh tomorrow. According to Uggah, these developments are expected to generate numerous job opportunities for Sarawakians. As such, priority under the state's free tertiary education initiative, particularly at local institutions, will be given to students pursuing studies in STEM-related fields. He also encouraged students to continue striving for higher academic achievements. 'We already have a number of PhD holders from here. If they can do it despite facing various challenges, I am confident many others can follow in their footsteps,' he said. He added that quality education opens doors to better career prospects and an improved quality of life. Meanwhile, touching on the planned Yayasan Sarawak International School for the Betong Division, Uggah expressed appreciation to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for approving the project. He said the school would feature a curriculum distinct from that of regular schools, with a strong emphasis on mathematics and science aligning closely with the state's push for STEM education. 'I hope our students will prepare themselves and develop a strong passion for these two subjects in order to qualify for admission,' he said. Also present at the event were Sarawak Premier's political secretary Roseline Mapong, as well as Uggah's children, Dr Louis and Dr Annabelle. Bukit Saban douglas uggah embas lead STEM education students
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Petros to award offshore CCUS contracts by Q2
KUCHING: Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) plans to award contracts to the successful bidders of three offshore sites for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) by the second quarter of this year. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said Petros is currently finalising the agreements with the successful bidders for the offshore storage sites. "Petros, as the appointed resource manager, launched the Sarawak Bid Round 2024, offering three offshore storage sites with significant geological potential," Awang Tengah, who is also the state international trade, industry and investment minister, said in his winding-up speech in the State Legislative Assembly here today. He said Petros, together with investors, has committed over RM100 million to assess Sarawak's carbon storage potential and build a comprehensive database. "These efforts will create a globally competitive carbon storage portfolio, fortifying Sarawak's expertise, investment appeal and sustainable low-carbon economic growth," he said. He said Sarawak is poised to lead regional CCUS efforts, leveraging over 65 per cent of Malaysia's geological carbon storage potential. He said Sarawak is at the forefront of national and regional decarbonisation efforts, driving sustainable solutions and enhancing its pivotal role in the global low-carbon economy. Awang Tengah also said that Petros has expanded its upstream operations with 21 production sharing contracts, including 12 exploration projects and equity in five producing fields, achieving 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. "The SK433 Adong Kecil West site in Miri will produce its first onshore oil next year," he said. Awang Tengah said the state oil company has committed RM8.5 billion in capital expenditure over the next three years for infrastructure development and resource commercialisation. He said that by 2030, the Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR) is expected to attract RM60 billion in investments and contribute significantly to Sarawak's economy. He said the initiatives reinforce Sarawak's leadership in sustainable energy, driving economic growth while advancing global decarbonisation efforts.
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Petronas invested RM25bil in Sarawak in 2024: Awang Tengah
KUCHING: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has invested RM25 billion in Sarawak last year, said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Awang Tengah, who is also the Sarawak Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment said these investments include nine first hydrocarbon discoveries and two major production milestones – the Kasawari field at Block SK316 and the Jerun field at Block SK408. "Ongoing offshore development and exploration projects are in progress to ensure future energy security. "Petronas is intensifying frontier exploration through data enrichment and strategic partnerships for seismic processing, reinforcing Sarawak's role in Malaysia's energy sector, supporting long-term energy security and economic growth," he said during his ministry's winding-up session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today. Meanwhile, Awang Tengah said Sarawak recognises natural gas as a vital transition fuel in the global journey towards net-zero emissions and the state is committed to its responsible development. He said the Sarawak Gas Roadmap leverages Sarawak's abundant natural gas resources, which constitute over 60 per cent of Malaysia's reserves, to drive industrialisation, improve energy security and attract sustainable investment. "As part of this initiative, a RM100 million city gas trunkline in Bintulu will expand clean and affordable energy access for homes and businesses. The project is going to be implemented soon. "Meanwhile, the RM1 billion Samalaju Pipeline will transport 300 million standard cubic feet (mmscf) per day of gas from Bintulu to Samalaju Industrial Park. The installation of this gas pipeline is expected to be completed by the end of 2025," he said.
