MIRI: The state government has expressed hope that JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited will set up its regional base in Sarawak to further enhance the oil and gas industry.
“In Miri, Shell Malaysia is upscaling its presence in Sarawak with its new Upstream headquarters located here and we also hope JX Nippon can do the same thing,” said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan on Saturday night.
He was speaking at JX Nippon’s 20th anniversary celebration of its 1st Gas Helang Field whioch lies offshore Sarawak, some 84 kilometres from Miri town.
“The development of the oil and gas sector is indeed complex, capital intensive and technically challenging, which is made possible riding on high oil and LNG prices,” said Awang Tengah.
“Currently, global uncertainties caused by geopolitical tensions and regional on-going wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East have created unprecedented demand for oil and natural gas products especially in Europe and China.”
Sarawak is well-positioned to leverage the state’s resources and meet the energy demand under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg and the implementation of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, he said.
“In the past, the development of the oil and gas sector in Sarawak was mainly done by Petronas, with participation from international oil and gas multinationals like JX Nippon and Shell but today Sarawak through its oil and gas arm, Petros is actively participating in upstream, midstream and downstream development,” Awang Tengah stated.
He added, the Sarawak government through Petros will continue to drive the development of oil and gas industries, as part of PCDS 2030.
Going forward, he disclosed, that Petros will continue to be actively involved Upstream especially in rejuvenating Onshore Exploration and Commercialisation.
In Midstream and Downstream, Sarawak is investing in its 10-year Sarawak Gas Roadmap with four hubs namely in Bintulu, Samalaju, Miri and Kuching, he said.
“From these four hubs, Petros will promote domestic gas utilisation across Sarawak by developing gas distribution infrastructure, promote petrochemical industries and providing sustainable, reliable and affordable energy to the household, commercial and industrial customers,” he added.
Also present were Minister for Transport Sarawak Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazlan Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Office, Labour, Immigration & Project Monitoring Datuk Gerawat Jala, President of JX Nippon Oil & Gas Cooperation Toshiya Nakahara, Executive Vice President, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Cooperation Tetsuo Yamada, Senior Vice President, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Cooperation Shinji Oka, Executive Officer, and Managing Director of JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited Katsunori Ozawa.
