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Saturday, 31 December 2011

Petronas in talks with oil majors for petchem tie-up

Petronas is in talks with several global oil majors including Shell and Exxon Mobil to develop petrochemical plants within its $20 billion refinery complex in southern Malaysia, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Malaysia's national oil company is also talking to Japanese firms Itochu Corp and Mitsubishi Corp as well as to Dow Chemical Co the largest U.S. chemical maker as it seeks to tap surging Asian demand and diversify its earnings, the sources told Reuters.

Petronas is expected to make a decision on the partnerships by mid-2012, which signals it is quickly moving beyond the feasibility stage of the project.

"Petronas is getting a lot of interest for the joint venture undertakings," said one source who declined to be identified as the talks are ongoing.

"They have moved to the basic engineering and design stage and after this the tendering process for building the complex will start," the source added.

Petronas, Shell and Mitsubishi officials in Malaysia declined to comment. Itochu, Dow Chemical and Exxon Mobil were not immediately available to comment.

Petronas first unveiled the Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development (RAPID) project in May and has said the complex will be commissioned by end-2016, which both sources said was on track.

The $20 billion complex is to be built in southern Johor state which borders Singapore -- the largest oil trading hub in Asia.

The project is key to Petronas' plan to join the likes of India's Reliance Industries in grabbing a larger share in the $395 billion global market for specialty chemicals -- high value raw materials used in products from diapers to higher performance tires and LCD televisions.

"In terms of markets for petrochemicals coming from RAPID, Petronas is aiming for Myanmar, Bangladesh and parts of the subcontinent," said a second source.

"The potential is there as these are huge markets or in the case of Myanmar, just opening up."

RAPID REACH

The RAPID project will include a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery that produces naphtha, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and fuel oil. The first source said the crude feedstock would come mostly from Petronas' equity projects in Sudan, Chad and eventually Venezuela instead of Malaysia's own higher quality and expensive crude, domestic production of which is slowing.

The crude feedstock from Petronas equity projects will also be channeled into the petrochemicals and polymer complex, including a 3 million ton-per-year (tpy) naphtha cracker and petrochemical derivatives facility focusing on synthetic rubber.

"Over 1 million tons will be for ethylene and propylene and the rest for high grade specialty chemicals," said the first source.

"Synthetic rubber is a big thing. Nearly 90 percent of a tire is made of synthetic rubber because natural rubber production is declining in Asia, so there is an opportunity for Petronas," the source added.

STRUGGLE OR SURVIVE

The RAPID project gives Petronas' downstream operations a better chance of staying afloat in times of economic downturns and poor margins as it allows Malaysia's only Fortune 500 company to tap into its global feedstock sources, analysts say.

"From a Petronas perspective, there is vertical integration opportunity," said Andrew Wong, lead analyst covering Petronas at Standard & Poor's in Singapore.

"I think the expectation for a recovery in the petrochemical sector in 2011 did not quite happen due to the external factors and there is concern whether the project will come on-stream at a good point in time of the global economic cycle," he added.

Industry players have said Malaysia and Petronas' ramp-up of oil infrastructure in the southernmost tip of the country will create a "Greater Singapore" trading hub that allows the region to keep up with competitors like China.

Petronas is counting on interest from Japanese firms which are looking to relocate their plants or re-invest outside their home base after the March tsunami and earthquake triggered uncertainty over future energy supply, the second source said.

"The interest has particularly been strong from the usual Japanese players in the petrochemical market. This project has started at the right time," the source added.

Saturday, 17 December 2011

LNG terminal project in Lahad Datu to offer spin-off opportunities

Petronas’ plan to set up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gasification terminal in Lahad Datu will not only solve power shortage in the district but also bring spin-off opportunities to it.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, said he was aware of the proposed Petronas mega project and people in Lahad Datu fully supported it.

He said the proposed terminal, which would enable LNG to be imported and regasified for supply to the Lahad Datu Power Plant, would also be a boon to the industrial sector in the district.

“Most importantly, the occasional power disruption in the district will definitely be solved once the project is completed, and is also good for the business sector,” he added.

Nasrun, who is also state assemblyman for Lahad Datu, said the setting up of the two high impact projects was indeed very timely, especially after the government scrapped the plan to build a proposed RM2 million coal powered electricity station at Silam.

“At present, electricity supply is adequately distributed in most parts of Lahad Datu district, except for certain islands and some remote villages.

“The setting up of the Lahad Datu Power Plant and LNG regasification terminal, will definitely bring significant changes to Lahad Datu in terms of power stability,” he told Bernama, here.

He also urged Petronas to consider supplying the LNG direct to consumers in Lahad Datu via gas piping, like what was being introduced in Bintulu, Sarawak.

“I’ll be grateful if Petronas could also consider giving job opportunities to the locals, especially contractors when it embarks on the LNG terminal project,” Nasrun said.

Petronas recently announced its plan to construct an LNG terminal in Lahad Datu, which would be connected to the Lahad Datu Power Plant.

It would be jointly built by a Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) consortium consisting of Petronas and a state entity.

Sabah’s projected electricity requirement by 2020 was about 1,500 megawatt and the completion of the Kimanis and Lahad Datu Power Plants was expected to contribute an additional 600 megawatts.

The two Petronas multi-billion projects were expected to be completed in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Meanwhile, Assistant Rural Development Minister, Datuk Haji Sairin Karno, said Petronas should not be ‘distracted’ from carrying out its oil and gas (O&G) activities in Sabah by negative comments.

“By and large, Petronas has done a good job (to develop the O&G industry in Sabah) and it should continue doing so, as the people and the state are also benefiting from the group’s activities,” he added.

Sairin, who is also Liawan state assemblyman, said it was normal for any important organisation like Petronas to come into public scrutiny, more so after being successful in developing Sabah’s O&G resources.

“We cannot deny that O&G has generated substantial revenue due to Petronas’ involvement, which has in turn allowed us (Sabah) to receive petroleum royalties,” he added.

According to Petronas, Sabah had received petroleum royalties of RM6.8 billion since 1976 while the group’s total investment to develop the state’s O&G industry was RM63 billion.

Friday, 16 December 2011

Reserves shrinking, Malaysia turns to marginal oilfields

A deep-sea platform is seen in Brazilian waters. Malaysia is also
venturing into deeper and deeper waters in search of more oil.

Malaysia is expected to award at least four to five licences to develop smaller fields next year as it looks to halt a decline in crude oil and natural gas production, a senior government official said.

The government has been developing deep-water fields, rejuvenating old areas and introducing incentives to develop so-called marginal fields once deemed less profitable to explore in a bid to increase output as global energy use climbs.

It awarded licences to develop two marginal fields this year, and will double that number in 2012.

“Our production is declining so we want to find more oil to maintain that production level,” Mohd Emir Mavani, a director in charge of the energy industry at the government’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit, told Reuters in an interview late yesterday.

“What we want to do is maintain our production at 650,000 barrels per day.”

Crude oil output in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest oil and gas producer is seen rising 3.3 per cent next year, reversing a decline in 2011, the government forecast in its economic report in October.

Oil production is expected to recover to 620,000 bpd, after an estimated six per cent drop this year to 600,000 bpd, extending a 3.1 per cent decline in 2010, according to the estimate.

Mohd Emir said the marginal fields would be developed by joint-ventures between foreign and Malaysian companies on a risk-sharing basis.

The smaller fields typically produce about 30,000 barrels per day, he said.

Marginal oil fields “will grow, not only in Malaysia”, he said. “We also have Vietnam and Indonesia who equally have this kind of opportunity.”

In August, Malaysian state oil firm Petroliam Nasional awarded the Balai Cluster marginal oil field offshore Sarawak to a venture involving Dialog Group, Australia’s ROC Oil Co and Petronas’s exploration arm .

It was the second marginal field awarded by Petronas this year after a group comprising Kencana Petroleum, SapuraCrest Petroleum and Petrofac won the Berantai marginal field in January.

Mohd Emir is also chief executive of Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corp, which is tasked with developing the energy services sector.

The organisation aims to attract RM450 million of investments in the oil and gas services industry next year, after beating its goal of drawing RM320 million of investments this year.

Vitol was among the companies that pledged investments in Malaysia, Mohd Emir said.

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Leighton Offshore opens engineering business in Malaysia - wins US$10 million Iraq contract

Leighton Offshore has officially launched a new engineering business in Malaysia. DPS Leighton Engineering Sdn Bhd (LE), a fully owned PMC subsidiary of Leighton Offshore, provides engineering and PMC solutions for Leighton’s international EPCIC and LOFS business.

Leighton’s detailed engineering and PMC arm has grown from the former oil and gas engineering consulting business of DPS Bristol (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which was acquired by Leighton.

LE will also be providing technical, procurement and management support to DPS Consultant Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which provides oil and gas consultancy services in Malaysia.

Leighton Offshore's CEO, Peter Cox, said: “We are growing our oil and gas business internationally from our headquarters here in Malaysia, and strengthening our engineering and PMC capacity is a core element in our growth strategy”.

Mr Cox also announced that Leighton Engineering has already been awarded its first contract with a value of approximately $US10 million to undertake the detailed engineering of two offshore platforms for the Sealine project for Iraq’s South Oil Company, which is being managed here in Kuala Lumpur by a dedicated Leighton project team.

The Leighton engineering team will also assist with the procurement and follow on engineering for the two platforms.

The Sealine project involves the design, construction and installation of two offshore platforms, a 75km, 48in oil pipeline and a single point mooring system and follows on from the US$800 million ICOEEP project currently being undertaken by Leighton Offshore.

“We have made a business decision to focus our engineering and EPIC capability here in Kuala Lumpur, where there is a wealth of oil and gas experience and a competitive engineering talent base for oil and gas projects, and we are proud to be bringing world class projects, such as the Sealine project to be performed here supporting investment and new jobs in Malaysia,” Mr Cox said.

Leighton also officially opened its new office at G Tower on Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur and unveiled its new logo. “The new logo gives us a strong and distinctive look which reflects our heritage and is relevant to the oil and gas industry. Our new offices in G Tower, Malaysia’s first Green building (BCA Gold Greenmark) reflect our commitment to sustainability and our confidence in our strong growth prospects here in Malaysia”, added Mr Cox.

Carigali makin mahal

Perbelanjaan bagi carigali dan pengeluaran minyak di Malaysia dijangka mencecah RM45 bilion dengan kadar pertumbuhan sebanyak 16.6 peratus pada tahun 2012.

Segmen pertumbuhan itu merangkumi projek-projek laut dalam, meluaskan penemuan minyak (EOR) dan lapangan marginal.

Menurut Pengarah Tenaga dan Sistem Kuasa Frost & Sullivan, Subramanya Bettadapura, pembekal pasaran minyak dan gas (O&G) yang bakal menerima manfaat pada 2012 adalah firma kejuruteraan, penyedia perkhidmatan penggerudian, kapal sokongan luar pesisir dan sebagainya.

‘‘Petronas telah memperoleh kejayaan hasil program eksplorasi mereka pada tahun ini dengan penemuan O&G di Sabah dan Sarawak.

‘‘Mereka kekal komited dengan strategi memberi tumpuan kepada usaha eksplorasi di perairan domestik dan telah menyediakan belanjawan sebanyak RM300 bilion untuk lima tahun akan datang sebagai modal perbelanjaan bagi mengekalkan paras pengeluaran dan beberapa pertumbuhan di sepanjang nilai rantaian integrasi bagi sektor tersebut

Bettadapura dalam kenyataannnya di sini berkata, usaha eksplorasi akan diteruskan terutama di kawasan blok perairan cetek dan dalam pada 2012.

‘‘Petronas dan rakan kongsinya dijangka akan menggerudi 20 telaga eksplorasi semasa 2012 dan projek laut dalam Malaysia kedua Gumusut/Kakap akan bermula pada awal 2012.

‘‘Manakala projek Malikai bakal bermula pada 2014 serta dua lagi projek laut dalam Jangas dan Kebabangan juga bakal bermula pada tahun tersebut,’’ jelasnya.

Selain itu, Petronas dengan kerjasama ExxonMobil serta Shell telah mengambil pendekatan agresif untuk memulihkan semula (rejuvenate) lapangan matang.

‘‘Petronas dan Shell Malaysia akan membelanjakan RM36 bilion ke atas untuk projek-projek EOR dan pembangunan lapangan baharu untuk mengekalkan pengeluaran.

‘‘Perbelanjaan di bawah program ini pada tahun hadapan dijangka sekitar RM3 bilion,’’ katanya.

Projek luar pesisir Sabah dan Sarawak akan menyediakan peluang kepada penyedia perkhidmatan domestik untuk membina kemampuan teknikal bagi segmen tersebut.

Sementara itu perbelanjaan ExxonMobil untuk 2012 hingga 2013 bagi program pemulihan dijangka sekitar RM2 bilion dengan kos jangkaan sebanyak RM3 bilion.

Pembangunan lapangan marginal bakal menyaksikan pelaburan berterusan pada 2012 dengan fokus mengekalkan pengeluaran minyak.

Projek North Malay Basin merupakan sebahagian inisiatif pembangunan untuk meneroka dua lapangan marginal dan sembilan lapangan dengan kandungan karbon (C02) yang tinggi dijangka bernilai RM15 bilion.

Penilaian kesesuaian untuk pusat penapisan dan penyimpanan (Projek Rapid) di Johor sedang dilalukan.

Terminal penerima dan gas semula cecair (re-gasification) gas asli cecair (LNG) akan dijadikan sebagai sebahagian daripada projek Rapid.

Keputusan pelaburan akhir untuk projek itu akan dibuat pertengahan 2012 dengan anggaran nilai sebanyak RM60 bilion.

Friday, 9 December 2011

Kencana raih kontrak RM1b

KENCANA Petroleum Bhd meraih kontrak bernilai RM1 bilion daripada firma perkhidmatan gas dan minyak Amerika Syarikat (AS), Bechtel International Inc.

Ia adalah kontrak terbesar bagi penyedia perkhidmatan minyak dan gas bersepadu tempatan itu bagi tahun ini.
Kontrak yang diperoleh menerusi anak syarikat milik penuhnya, Kencana HL Sdn Bhd itu adalah bagi kerja fabrikasi dan pemasangan struktur serta komponen untuk kemudahan pemprosesan gas asli cecair (LNG) di Australia.

Di bawah kontrak itu, Kencana HL akan melaksanakan kerja fabrikasi, memasang, menguji dan memuatkan modul peralatan proses untuk Kemudahan Loji Projek Wheatstone yang terletak di utara Ashburton (berdekatan Onslow), di Australia Barat.

Projek Wheatstone, satu daripada projek industri minyak dan gas terbesar di Australia, adalah usaha sama antara anak syarikat Chevron di Australia (73.6 peratus), Apache (13 peratus), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (tujuh peratus) dan Shell (6.4 peratus).

Kencana dalam kenyataannya di Bursa Malaysia berkata, projek itu akan dilaksanakan Kencana HL di limbungan fabrikasinya di Lumut Perak selama 29 bulan.
“Penyerahan struktur dan komponennya pula akan dilakukan secara berperingkat mulai suku ketiga 2014 hingga suku ketiga 2015,” katanya.

Kontrak di Australia itu adalah yang kelima diperoleh oleh Kencana bagi tahun ini.

April lalu, Kencana menerusi Kencana HL, meraih kontrak bernilai RM208 juta daripada Kebabangan Petroleum Operating Company Sdn Bhd (KPOC) bagi kerja fabrikasi struktur kecil untuk projek pembangunan Hab Utara Kebabangan di pesisir pantai Sabah.

Menerusi Kencana HL juga, Kencana turut memperoleh kontrak pembangunan platform lapangan minyak Cendor, di luar pesisir Terengganu bernilai RM216 juta pada Mac lalu.

Sebulan sebelum itu, Kencana turut memperoleh kontrak daripada Petrofac E&C Sdn Bhd untuk projek kejuruteraan, pemerolehan, pembinaan dan pelaksanaan (EPCC) Mobile Offshore Production Unit (MOPU) dan Wellhead Support Structure (WESS), bernilai RM115 juta di luar pantai Terengganu.

Awal tahun ini pula, Kencana menerusi pakatannya bersama Sapura Energy Ventures dan Petrofac Energy Developments Sdn Bhd (PED), turut dianugerahkan kontrak kerja perkhidmatan berisiko (RSC) bagi pembangunan telaga minyak kecil milik PETRONAS di luar pesisir pantai Terengganu.

Dengan projek terbaru yang diperolehnya di Australia itu, jumlah keseluruhan kontrak yang diperoleh Kencana setakat ini adalah bernilai kira-kira RM3.5 bilion.

Saturday, 3 December 2011

Petronas Q2 net profit up 53% at RM18bil

Petronas posted a 53.8% jump in net profit to RM18.3bil for its second quarter ended Sept 30, 2011 from RM11.9bil a year ago due to higher prices across its product range. However, the impact of the better prices was partially offset by the stronger ringgit against the US dollar.

The second-quarter revenue also increased by 26% to RM71.8bil from RM57bil previously.

Dividends paid to the Government amounted to RM21bil year-to-date, which is about half of Petronas' year-to-date net profit totalling RM40bil. Dividends paid by Petronas will be capped at 30% of its net profit in the financial year ending Dec 31, 2013 (FY13) after an agreement with the latter earlier this year.

“For this calendar year we are (expecting) to pay a total of RM30bil to the Government. That amounts to around 50% of Petronas' profits. Going forward, we have to spend a lot on capital expenditure (capex). We have to find the balance between capex and paying out dividends,” Petronas executive vice president for finance Datuk George Ratilal said in a presentation of its financial performance yesterday.

Petronas expects to rake in RM70bil to RM75bil in profits before tax by the year-end.

The national oil company said its overall performance had improved as reflected in the higher return on average capital employed of 23.6% in the year to Sept 30 from 17.5% in previously.

“We have a strong balance sheet,” said Ratilal. Petronas said in the media presentation that its balance sheet remained robust with total assets growing by 7.6% quarter-on-quarter to RM472.4bil with total debt/total assets ratio remaining at 0.11 times.

It said its year-on-year cash from operations rose 61% to RM47.4bil compared with the same period last year due to higher earnings while year-on-year capital expenditure spending rose by 43% to RM24bil.

Petronas had earlier announced that it was changing its financial year-end from March 31 to Dec 31, which would mean the company would have only a nine months in FY11.

President and CEO Datuk Shamsul Azhar Abbas said he remained cautious on the global economy moving forward and that current oil prices of above US$100 remained “too strong” for the fragile world economy.

He expected the world economy to deteriorate further due to the dire economic situation in the West and weakening economic indicators in China.

“We will not be surprised if the second recession comes next year. If you were to ask me what would be the projection of crude oil prices next year, we maintain it is going to be in the range of US$85 to US$87 per barrel,” Shamsul said, explaining later that this was the price range used for Petronas' forecast for 2012 as well.

On the international front, Shamsul said the company was “taking a hit” on gas production in Egypt and Sudan due to political uprisings in these countries. It is also exploring opportunities in Myanmar, where it already has a local partner, although negotiations are still at the early stages.

Petronas also said it was exploring business opportunities in Japan after the Fukushima nuclear incident there, which would increase demand for power generation from non-nuclear sources.

Petronas Gas to furnish Sabah with new LNG terminal

Petronas Gas Bhd (Petronas Gas) president has officially announced the building of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Lahad Datu to cater for the new Sabah east coast gas plant and new industries in that area.

The announcement was the first from the company, following Sabah state officials’ talks about adorning Sabah with a LNG terminal.

“We understand that this terminal will have a rated capacity of one million tonnes per annum,” added OSK Research Sdn Bhd (OSK Research) in its research report.

The research house believed that its capacity could go up, pending assessment of demand prior to the commencement of construction. Petronas Gas was believed to be the big winner, being the operator of the first LNG terminal in Melaka, as well as the owner and operator of LNG terminals in Pengerang and Lahad Datu.

The research report subsequently took a positive stance on the company’s chances of winning Lumut as well.

“This is the first time we have heard of the Lumut terminal, though it would certainly be no surprise if an LNG terminal emerges there,” the report added after noting the presence of the numerous gas-fired power plants and the existence of deep draft ports in the area.

There had been news of a floating LNG plant in Kanowit by 2015 and another in Sabah by 2016. These plants had been on the drawing board since 2007. OSK Research believed that its subsidiary, MISC Bhd would want to be the operator of these terminals.
To account for the potential earnings from Pengerang and Lahad Datu, the research house had bumped up its terminal growth rate for the company to 3.5 per cent as it pegged a fair value of RM15.52 per share, pending further details on the contract.

While no contract had been signed to confirm the other LNG import terminals in the country, the company remained OSK Research’s top utility pick. Its appeal was enhanced by its defensive business nature as well as its safe growth angle, seeing that gas shortage in the Peninsular was expected to be more acute in the coming years.

Friday, 2 December 2011

Petronas eyes onshore Burma amid profits

Petronas is looking to expand its operations in Burma onshore and has submitted a bid for a field there, the Malaysian state-owned company said on the day it posted a 54% rise in quarterly profits.

"At the moment in Myanmar we are only offshore and the business has been quite good," Reuters quoted Wee Yiaw Hin, Petronas’ executive vice-president of exploration and production, as saying on Thursday.

"There has been recently a bid on the onshore block and we are looking at opportunities to go onshore in Myanmar," Wee said after announcing Petronas' quarterly earnings.

In August, Burma, also known as Myanmar, closed one of its largest exploration tenders in years, just a few months after it launched a spate of political reforms.

Wee said the bidding process will end sometime next year and that he was unaware of any other Malaysian companies bidding for the same blocks, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, the South-east Asian giant said it made about 18.3 billion ringgit ($5.75 billion) in the quarter ending 30 September.

That was up from 11.9 billion ringgit in the same period last year and came on quarterly revenues of 71.8 billion ringgit, a 26% increase from a year ago.

The increase was driven by higher realised prices for crude and other commodities such as LNG, Petronas said, and came despite a downtick in production.

Petronas produced 2.03 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in the quarter compared to 2.12 MMboepd a year ago – a drop of 7%.

The fall in production was a result of lower reservoir performance and higher downtime, Petronas said.

Friday, 25 November 2011

Prison for NDT Inspector who lied on test reports

An NDT Inspector has been sentenced to 3 years prison and order to pay $654,000
compensation after admitting to certifying critical welds on submarines without
actually testing them.

Robert Ruks aged 34 was employed as an inspector at the Newport News
shipbuilding yard in Virginia. His worked required him to inspect welds on various
types of navy vessels including critical welds on nuclear submarines.

In 2009 Ruks was interviewed by the US Navy's criminal investigation service after
fellow inspectors had suspected that he was signing off welds that he had not
tested.

During his employment Ruks certified more than 10,000 welds on submarines.
Around 10% of which were hull integrity or SUBSAFE joints involving critical
parts, failure of which could have lead to the loss of a nuclear submarine.

As a result of his actions over 9,500 welds had to be reinspected. During the
retests 14 structural welds were found to be defective and required repairing.
The re-inspection required 18,900 man hours and cost $654,000. As part of
Ruks sentence he will be required to repay that sum to the US Navy.

Shahril to be president, group CEO of merged Sapura-Kencana group

Sapura Group president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shahril Shamsuddin will be the president and group chief executive officer of the merged SAPURACREST PETROLEUM BHD and KENCANA PETROLEUM BHD.

According to documents sighted by The Edge FinancialDaily, Sapura group chairman Datuk Hamzah Bakar will be the chairman of the new board while Kenaca’s executive chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir will be appointed the executive vice chairman.

Both the president & group CEO and executive vice chairman will report directly to the board.

Currently, the integration committee for the merger exercise is jointly chaired by Shahril and Mokhzani.

Both companies will be seeking shareholders’ approval at an EGM on Dec 14 for the proposed merger. The Securities Commission has already given its go-ahead for the merger.

In July, the petroleum-related companies announced the merger which would be undertaken by Integral Key Sdn Bhd (IKSB), a special purpose vehicle. IKSB had then made a RM11.85-billion offer to acquire all their assets and liabilities in a share swap. The merger of equals will have a combined market capitalisation in excess of RM10 billion.

According to the documents, Shahril said the integration committee was set up to achieve a successful merger and to formulate the strategic direction of the new merged entity moving forward.

He had also said that it is “critical that we put in place a strong and dynamic organisational structure that would ensure business continuity and realisation of the synergies we hope to derive as a merged entity. I would like to assure each and everyone of you that you will continue to be an important part of the new organisation moving forward”.

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Petronas' Explanation Sought On The Channelling Of Gas From Sogt To Bintulu

Petronas today was asked to provide a transparent and detailed explanation on its decision to supply and channel gas from the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal to the Petronas Liquefied Nitgrogen Gas Complex in Bintulu, Sarawak.

State Assemblyman for Pantai Manis, Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail made this request to Petronas, saying that the explanation would be important in putting to rest any confusion with regards to the project.

"Some may understand the rationale for the decision, but I fear a majority of them may not understand and we do not want any parties trying to exploit the issue for their own interest," he said when debating the Sabah 2012 Budget at the State Legislative Assembly here today.

Abdul Rahim also urged the state government to form a special committee with the specific role of looking into issues related to the state's oil and gas industry.

"This body must be represented by players from the oil and gas industry, be it government or private sector."

The same body can also take action in representing, safeguarding and advocating the interest of Sabah in matters related to the development of the industry in the state, he said.

Abdul Rahim said the body should also have to capacity and expertise to play advisor and consultant on the industry with the view to taking care of Sabah's interest.

He said the new discovery of oil within 100km offshore Kota Kinabalu by Petronas had the potential of beefing up both the upstream and downstream activities of the state's oil and gas industry.

The former state minister of Agriculture and Food Industries also expects the new oil find to extend the lifespan of oil and gas production in Sabah and make the state an important player in the country's oil and gas industry in the decades to come.

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Petronas Chemicals posts RM1.7bn Q2 profit

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd posted a pre-tax profit of RM1.7 billion on revenue of RM4.638 billion for the quarter ended Sept 30, 2011.

For the six months ended Sept 30, it posted a pre-tax profit of RM2.758 billion on revenue of RM7.983 billion.

It declared an interim dividend of eight sen per share, payable on Dec 22. Petronas Chemicals said moving forward, the results of its operations are expected to be primarily influenced by fluctuations in international petrochemical products prices, global economic conditions and utilisation rate of its production facilities.

The start of the third quarter saw power supply interruption to Ethylene Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which limited its ethylene production for approximately two weeks, it said.

Consistent with previous periods, the Olefins and Derivatives segment will continue to be the key contributor to the Group's results, it added.

Subject to sufficient availability of methane gas, it expects satisfactory results of its operations for the financial period ending Dec 31, 2011.

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Shell Sets World Record for Deepest Subsea Oil and Gas Well

Shell Oil Company is now producing oil from the world's deepest subsea well at its Perdido Development, utilizing advanced technology to lead the way in increasing the company's ability to produce more domestic oil and gas resources.

The well, at 9,627 feet below the water's surface, is located in the Tobago Field 200 miles southwest of Houston in the ultra-deep water of the Gulf of Mexico. Tobago is jointly owned by Shell (32.5%, as operator), Chevron (57.5%), and Nexen (10.0%) and is one of three fields producing through the Perdido drilling and production platform.

Tobago breaks the world water depth record for subsea production, previously held by another field in the Perdido Development, the Silvertip field at 9,356 feet of water.

"Energy is fundamental to global economic growth. Providing this energy must be met practically, safely and in an environmentally responsible manner," said Marvin Odum, Upstream Americas Director. "Through our highly skilled workforce and cadre of global geoscientists, Shell has applied its advanced seismic and drilling technologies at Perdido to produce additional sources of oil and gas."

Moored in about 8,000 feet of water, the Perdido platform is jointly owned by Shell (33.34%), BP (33.33%) and Chevron (33.33%) and is the deepest drilling and production facility in the world with a capacity to handle 100,000 barrels of oil per day and 200 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. From Perdido, Shell accesses the Great White, Tobago, and Silvertip oil and gas fields through subsea wells directly below the facility and from wells up to seven miles away. At its peak, Perdido can produce enough energy to meet the needs of more than two million US households. Shell operates Perdido and its satellite fields on behalf of partners Chevron, Nexen, and BP.

This world-class project began with the 1996 lease sale when the technology to develop hydrocarbons at Perdido's water depth did not yet exist. By the time the final investment decision for commercial development was made in October 2006, Shell had pioneered several technological firsts which allowed the company to proceed with ultra deepwater oil and gas production. Development drilling began in July 2007, five years after the discovery of hydrocarbons. Perdido produced its first oil and gas on March 31, 2010.

Perdido Technical Facts and Firsts

Deepest water depth record for an offshore oil drilling and production platform.
First water injection in 8,000 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico (Great White GB001) helps push oil through the reservoir, from the injector wells to the production wells.
First commercial production from the Lower Tertiary geological formation, which many see as the next big opportunity in deep water.

Deployment of an innovative subsea separation and boosting system that compensates for the low-pressure reservoir and about 2,000 psi of backpressure from the wells. The system includes five specially designed 1,500-horsepower electric pumps embedded in the seafloor to boost production to the surface.

First spar with direct vertical access wells and production hardware on the seafloor at a depth of more than 8,000 feet.

Perdido weighs 50,000-tons and sits in water six times deeper than the height of the Empire State Building.

The entire Perdido project has achieved 13 million man-hours without a lost-time injury, testifying to the effectiveness of the safety regimes put in place by the construction and operating teams.

Saturday, 19 November 2011

The Largest And The Heavy It Become : DNV to classify world's largest heavy lift vessel

With its width of nearly 80 metres and length of 275 metres, the Dockwise Vanguard is the first semisubmersible heavy lift vessel to be built in accordance with DNV's new class rules for this type of ship. The vessel has no forecastle, which allows it to carry cargo of unlimited length. Its deckhouse is mainly positioned outside its hull, allowing it to carry 70 metre wide cargo.

Dockwise's new heavy lift vessel, the Dockwise Vanguard, will be able to lift and transport units of up to 110,000 tonnes. The maximum capacity of an existing vessel is 75,000 tonnes.

"As DNV is perceived to be the leading class society when it comes to heavy lift vessels, and as Dockwise is a front runner within this ship segment, the two organisations have cooperated to ensure this new innovative vessel meets all the safety standards," said Torgeir Sterri, DNV Regional Manager Central Europe. "Not only were DNV's existing rules essential for scaling up this unique semisubmersible heavy lift vessel concept, but DNV's risk assessment capabilities were also key to meeting all the SOLAS requirements for this unconventional design."

At the annual gala for the Dutch maritime cluster, the Royal Dutch Association of Shipowners chose the Dockwise Vanguard as the most innovative and daring project launched by the Dutch maritime sector during the past year, the company said. When accepting this award, Dockwise's CEO André Goedée expressed his appreciation of the Dutch flag administration and DNV.

"I am pleased and impressed by the way the owner, flag and class have managed to work together," Goedée said. "By thinking ‘outside the box,' we have been able to form a new concept and bring the whole industry a huge step forward".

The vessel is going to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea. Its keel will be laid in December and the vessel is due to be delivered in October 2012, when its first cargo will be ready to be transported from South-East Asia to Brazil.

Ramunia explains ONGC decision

Ramunia Holdings Bhd and its joint venture partner declined to re-tender for a US$190 million (RM602 million) contract with India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd (ONGC) due to the long delay in the issuance of the notice of award. The contract was for the construction of up to 10 wellhead platforms.

Ramunia clarified to Bursa Malaysia yesterday that the Ramunia-SEW consortium decided not to participate as ONGC had delayed the notice of award from Sept 2, 2011 to Nov 11, 2011, despite the fact that the consortium was the lowest compliant bidder as declared on Aug 30, beating five other international consortia and one disqualified bidder.

Ramunia had announced on Monday that the consortium would not be participating in the re-tender exercise for the WO-16 cluster and SB-14 wellhead platform project after receiving a new invitation from ONGC to participate in a short re-tender of the project.

Ramunia said in April that Ramunia Fabricators Sdn Bhd had signed a memorandum of understanding with SEW Infrastructure Ltd (India) and in July it announced that the Ramunia-SEW consortium was to bid for this job. If Ramunia had won the job, it would have marked Ramunia’s re-entry into India after a two-year hiatus.

Ramunia was blacklisted by ONGC over issues with a US$685 million field development job in 2008. The two-year blacklist ended in May.

Friday, 18 November 2011

Petronas, Shell in $12 Billion Oilfield Development Deal

Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd. said Friday that it has agreed with Royal Dutch Shell PLC to jointly develop oilfields in Malaysia using enhanced oil recovery techniques.

The companies say the $12 billion project will help the Malaysian national explorer extract a greater portion of oil from its existing reserves and extend the lives of its oilfields.

The Malaysian company, also called Petronas, has been grappling with shrinking output from aging fields and targets capital expenditure of 50 billion ringgit-55 billion ringgit ($15.89 billion-$17.47 billion) a year over the next five years to replace and refurbish them.

Many of its producing Malaysian oil and gas fields are between 19 years and 28 years old.

Last year, Malaysia unveiled a package of tax incentives to boost oil output from mature fields, including cutting tax rates for the development of new oil and gas resources and enhancing recovery from depleted fields.

Petronas said it signed a deal with Shell for two 30-year production-sharing contracts under which the companies will employ enhanced oil recovery methods at oilfields offshore Sarawak and Sabah states in East Malaysia.

They will also develop nine oil fields in the Baram Delta offshore Sarawak and four in the North Sabah development area.

The two projects together may yield an additional 90,000 barrels to 100,000 barrels a day and could be the largest offshore enhanced oil recovery development in the world.

Malaysia, which produced 658,000 barrels of oil and condensates a day as of Jan. 1 last year, is expected to become a net oil importer by 2013 because of declining domestic output.

The projects will increase the average recovery factor in the Baram Delta and North Sabah fields to about 50% from around 36%, halt the decline of Malaysia’s oil output by improving production in the fields and extend the field life beyond 2040, Petronas said.

Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Petronas Carigali temui minyak di luar pantai Sabah

Cabang eksplorasi dan pengeluaran Petronas, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, telah menemui jumlah minyak yang signifikan di luar pantai Sabah.

Dalam satu kenyataan hari ini, Petronas berkata, penemuan itu dilakukan di telaga Wakid-1 di dalam Blok 2G-2J, kira-kira 100km di timur laut Kota Kinabalu.

Telaga itu digerudi pada 30 Mei, 2011 dan selesai pada 4 Julai, 2011.

Petronas berkata, ia mencapai ketinggian vertikal 3,330m dan mengesahkan kehadiran minyak yang signifikan dan kewujudan takungan gas.

"Tiga ujian pengeluaran dilaksanakan di tiga takungan berlainan yang mengalirkan minyak pada kadar maksimum disatukan 8,200 tong sehari.

"Anggaran awal semasa hidro karbon di kawasan itu dari penemuan itu ialah 227 juta tong bersamaan minyak (mmboe), dengan jangkaan potensi peningkatan,” kata Petronas.

Japanese may decide to shift ops to Sabah

Japanese companies are contemplating moving out of their country and looking at the possibility of investing in Malaysia in view of the high cost of living and high wages in Japan.

Japanese industrialists who are using Thailand as their base are also currently having problem in doing business there as most of their factories have been affected by floods, said Japan Research Industries and Industrial Technology Association (JRI) Director General, Seiji Oshima.

He said this during a visit to the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) head office in Sepanggar near here to study the investment possibility in Malaysia.

The group of seven officials was led by a Committee Member of the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce, Tadasuke Tayama.

According to Oshima, Japanese industrialists were also looking at other places such as China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Lawrence G Kimkuan, Senior Marketing Manager of KKIP, in briefing the visitors said there were many favourable factors for Japanese investors to consider coming to Malaysia, especially Sabah.

Firstly, he said, Sabah has more land for industrial development.

Moreover, the natural resources in the State are not fully tapped yet.

"There is an abundant supply of raw materials such as silica, rubber, palm oil, oil and gas, bio-tech and timber in Sabah for downstream activities or production of value add products and by-products," Kimkuan told the Japanese study group.

He told them that there is also a quality work force available at wage levels that are lower than states in Peninsular Malaysia. More over, the cost of living in Sabah is also lower compared to some other Asian countries.

Sabah also offers a complete package such as good lifestyle with modern shopping facilities, beaches and islands, majestic Mt. Kinabalu, cheap seafood, beautiful golf courses with lower fees and affordable resorts and hotels.

Not only that, Malaysia also has the advantage of having stability in its political, financial and judicial systems, the KKIP official told them.

During the briefing at KKIP, the Japanese group announced that part of the purpose of their tour of Malaysia was to introduce some of their new technologies. These included the Ultra High Pressure System and the Portable Toilet.

Also present at the briefing was Melvin Disimond, KKIP's Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Operations).

Sunday, 13 November 2011

Lynas: MB Pahang dituntut mohon maaf

Gabungan Hentikan Lynas (GHL) menuntut Menteri Besar Pahang Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob memohon maaf di atas kesilapan beliau menyebut bahawa bahan di Bukit Merah adalah bukan tanah jarang (rare earth) semasa temuramah beliau dengan aktivis Australia Ryan Albrey baru-baru ini.

GHL dalam kenyataan yang diedarkan kepada media menyebut, mereka amat terkilan dengan kenyataan Adnan dalam temuramah tersebut bahawa Asian Rare Earth (ARE) itu hanya merupakan nama syarikat tetapi tidak memproses tanah jarang.

GHL mendakwa, kenyataan Adnan itu merupakan satu tuduhan palsu dan tidak berasas kerana ARE menghasilkan Yttrium daripada Monozite sementara Yttrium pula merupakan bahan mentah untuk menghasilkan tiub untuk televisyen.

“Mengikut definasi International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), tanah jarang terdiri daripada 17 jenis bahan, iaitu 15 jenis Lanthanides, Scandium dan Yttrium. Maka jelas bahawa kilang ARE memang menghasilkan tanah jarang, mana pula juga telah mengaut keuntungan besar dengan menggadaikan nyawa dan keselamatan rakyat tempatan.

“Peristiwa pahit Bukit Merah telah memberikan satu iktibar besar kepada Rakyat Malaysia supaya jangan mengulangi kesilapan yang sama. GHL menganggap mungkin Adnan tidak berapa memahami peristiwa Bukit Merah sehingga boleh melontarkan kenyataan yang tidak berasaskan fakta, membuat perbandingan yang meremeh-temehkan perjuangan penduduk, dan menyinggung perasaan mangsa dan keluarga mangsa di Bukit Merah.

“Justeru, GHL menggesa Adnan Yaakob meminta maaf kepada penduduk Bukit Merah atas kesilapan fakta tersebut,” tulis kenyataan tersebut.

Selain itu, GHL juga berasa kesal dengan kenyataan Adnan yang berbaur rasis dan cuba memutarbelitkan isu sebenar di mana dalam temuramah tersebut beliau tidak menolak kemungkinan bahawa Orang Cina di Malaysia cuba bersuhabat dengan negara China untuk menggagalkan projek Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP) supaya China boleh kekal memonopoli pasaran tanah jarang di dunia.

“Ini merupakan satu tuduhan yang serius dan GHL harap Adnan dapat menunjukkan bukti atas dakwaan beliau. Jika tidak, Adnan selaku Menteri Besar Pahang bukan sahaja tidak peka terhadap kesejahteraan dan keharmonian masyarakt majmuk di Malaysia, malah cuba mengkaburi mata orang awam dengan andaian yang tidak berasas malah bersifat perkauman.

“GHL ingin mengingatkan Menteri Besar Pahang bahawa rakyat Kuantan dan Pahang sedang meneliti tindaklaku dan perbuatan Kerajaan BN sekarang. Rakyat Kuantan yang terdiri daripada berbilang kaum dan agama telah menghantar satu mesej yang jelas kepada pihak yang berkuasa bahawa mereka menolak Projek LAMP sepenuhnya.

“Walhal, dalam temuramah tersebut Adnan sendiri mengakui bahawa Negeri Pahang tidak mendapat apa-apa daripada Projek LAMP melainkan cukai tahunan tanah dan cukai pintu sahaja.”

Sementara itu, GHL juga meminta Adnan supaya hentikan percakapan yang bercanggah dari segi logik dan rasional. Misalnya, Adnan berkata semua perkara yang dijalani dalam kehidupan seharian ada risiko. Akan tetapi, Adnan sengaja mengabaikan hakikat bahawa Projek LAMP merupakan risiko lebihan yang disuapkan kepada rakyat dan generasi yang akan datang tanpa persetujuan mereka.

“Dalam temuramah tersebut, secara semberono Adnan juga berkata bahawa keadaan hartanah turun harga merupakan satu perkara yang baik dan menasihatkan siapa yang ada duit untuk membeli hartanah yang sedang turun sekarang.

“GHL menganggap kenyataan-kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Adnan ini hanya menunjukkan kelalaian dan kecetekan pandangan beliau terhadap Projek LAMP serta hak dan kepentingan rakyat justeru GHL meminta Adnan berhenti menjadi jurujual kepada LAMP dengan kata-kata yang manis tetapi tidak masuk akal dan tidak membawa makna.

“Apa yang rakyat harap adalah sikap pihak pemerintah yang akur dan mendengar kepada suara rakyat, tetapi bukan sikap politik yang dangkal dan jijik mainan pemimpin yang hanya mahu terus kekal berkuasa sahaja,” kenyataan tersebut dipetik.

Petronas to add power plant in Rapid

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) may add a power plant to its refinery and petrochemical integrated development (Rapid) complex in Pengerang, Johor.

“Rapid will require power. It will also require gas. It will require energy and electricity, so there will be power requirement,” Petronas executive vice-president (gas and power business) Datuk Anuar Ahmad told StarBiz after officiating the Petronas Leadership Centre, a learning arm of the group.

The Rapid project, costing about RM60bil, is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2016. It will have multinational oil and gas companies as joint-venture partners.

On Tuesday, StarBiz quoted sources as saying that Petronas would likely build a power plant to support the petrochemical industry in Pengerang.

According to sources, the national oil company planned to set up the plant on its own or through a joint venture.

On the shortage of gas, Anuar said it would likely to continue in the country for the time being.

“Hopefully, (it will be resolved) when we have the regassification terminal (ready) next August,” he said, adding that the volume would likely to continue to fluctuate as maintenance and services were still ongoing.

“There will always be maintenance. Gas supply level will fluctuate as maintenance takes place,” he said.

According to analysts, the new regassification project in Malacca, which is scheduled for commercialisation in mid-2012, is a long-term solution to address Malaysia's gas supply needs.

Separately, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has complained about the gas shortage as its earnings have been severely impacted. It has so far reported two consecutive quarters of losses.

TNB has said the losses stemmed from the need to replace the shortfall in the supply of gas by utilising more oil and distillates, which are five times more expensive than gas. This has resulted in TNB incurring an additional RM2.1bil in costs.

Friday, 11 November 2011

Petronas sah kunjungan SPRM, ‘teliti’ aduan salah laku

Petronas mengesahkan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) ada mengunjungi pejabatnya baru-baru ini tetapi menafikan ia telah melakukan serbuan ataupun mengambil sebarang fail dari premisnya.

Syarikat minyak nasional berkata kunjungan SPRM itu sebahagian daripada prosedur operasi standard (SOP) apabila ada aduan.

“Ekoran laporan bahawa SPRM telah menyerbu Petronas, kami ingin menjelaskan bahawa tiada serbuan dan tiada fail atau dokumen diambil oleh agensi itu sebagaimana didakwa,” kata Petronas dalam kenyataan kepada media malam ini.

Katanya, pegawai-pegawai SPRM telah berada di ibu pejabat Petronas untuk membantu dalam prosedur laporan maklumat pertama, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada SOP agensi itu ekoran apa jua aduan mengenai salah laku.

Petronas & Shell Ink HOA For New Oil Recovery Production-sharing Contracts

Petronas and Shell Malaysia on FRiday signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) for two 30-year production-sharing contracts (PSCs) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects in offshore Sabah and Sarawak.

The HOA will see staged work activities and new investments from Shell and its joint-venture partner, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, to extend the life and increase the recovery factor of the Baram Delta and North Sabah fields.

"This new agreement confirms Shell's commitment to continue investing in Malaysia and its position as a heartland for Shell.

"The agreement also provides an opportunity to work together with Petronas on building local knowledge and capabilities in enhanced oil recovery," Shell's chief executive officer Peter Voser said in a statement.

Improvements in the recovery efficiency of oil fields may result in an additional 90 to 100 kilo barrel of oil equivalent per day of oil production and extend the field life to beyond 2040.

The new agreement will build upon the existing Baram Delta and North Sabah production-sharing contracts located offshore Sabah and Sarawak.

Meanwhile, Shell Malaysia chairman Anuar Taib said the new agreement would positively impact Malaysia's oil reserves and benefit the country as well as, adding further value to the nation's upstream oil and gas industry.

"Shell, as a long-term partner in Malaysia's progress, is pleased to be able to continue contributing towards the national aspiration to become a high-income economy," he said.

Petronas Carigali holds 60 per cent equity interest in the Baram Delta production-sharing contract (expiry 2018) and is the operator while Shell holds the remaining 40 per cent stake.

The North Sabah PSC (expiry 2019) is Shell-operated, with each company holding an equal 50 per cent equity interest.

The projected increase in the average recovery factor in the Baram Delta and North Sabah fields will see a rise to 50 per cent from 36 per cent, adding significant value to the upstream industry in Malaysia and sustainable over the coming decades.

The technology employed in the North Sabah fields can potentially lead to the first field-scale offshore Chemical EOR in the world.

To date, Shell has participating interests in 14 PSCs in various offshore blocks in Sabah and Sarawak.

Gas Supply: Petronas Welcomes Third-party LNG Imports

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), which is currently developing Malaysia's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Melaka, is encouraged to learn that national utility company, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), is considering to import LNG to part-fuel its power plants.

Petronas' Executive Vice-President of Gas and Power Business Datuk Anuar Ahmad said the terminal, once operational, would have a provision for third-party access for the purpose of importing LNG into the country.

"This is in line with our philosophy of allowing third-party importers to use the terminal to land LNG, which could be sourced from various global suppliers, for their own use," he said.

He was responding to a query from Bernama on reports that TNB, through its fuel procurement subsidiary, TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd, is engaging consultants for short-and long-term LNG supply management.

"We hope third parties such as power and utilities providers and other gas consumers would be encouraged to source for their own gas. This would in turn help ease Malaysia's tight supply situation and the dependence on the country's declining gas resources.

"We are therefore encouraged to read reports that TNB, the country's utility giant, is drawing a long-term strategy for LNG supply management, a move that Petronas welcomes," Anuar said.

If adopted, the strategy would be akin to the approach long taken by power and utility players in other parts of the world, particularly those in countries with little or insufficient indigenous gas resources, he said.

In some of these countries, he said, power and utility players would also build their own LNG receiving terminals.

The Melaka terminal, being developed by Petronas Gas Bhd, will have the capacity to process 530 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

It is scheduled to be commercially operational in August 2012. A second LNG receiving terminal is being planned in Johor, which would allow for similar third-party access arrangements.

Anuar noted that total gas consumption in Malaysia increased by more than 33 per cent from 2000 to 2010, pushed up mainly by the introduction of regulated prices by the Government in 1997 to help Malaysian power and industrial players cushion the impact of the Asian financial crisis.

The new demand was mostly from customers who converted from other fuels to gas, he said, adding that even in the power sector, due to the subsidised prices, power producers would usually dispatch their gas plants first before plants that use other fuels to generate electricity.

"The 1997 crisis came and went, yet the gas prices remain regulated, creating more demand on an already tight gas situation compounded by declining resources. There is no shortage of other fuels in the market. But when you have a subsidised option, people would not go for the more costly alternatives.

"In Malaysia, we have a situation where gas - because it is "cheap" -- is used as a base load for power generation. This is in contrast to other economies where gas, being a clean energy and fetches a premium, the power companies use coal as their base load," he added.

Anuar said the "cheaper" gas prices, however, come with a heavy cost to PETRONAS, which buys the gas from producers at market prices but sells to the power sector and other industries at a heavily discounted prices.

"Up to August 2011, Petronas has foregone revenue amounting to RM103.2 billion for gas supplied to the power sector alone, out of a total of RM143.4 billion arising from price differentials between the market price and the regulated price," he said.

While the demand for natural gas has increased, its production has been declining. From 2006 to 2011, the production rate from Malaysia's existing gas fields declined between six and 29 per cent.

Anuar reiterated that Petronas had as early as 2005 warned the power and non-power industries as well as the regulators of the potential crunch in gas supply, making known its view that over-dependence on gas was not sustainable.

Regular discussions and engagement sessions were also held with the intention that customers could plan ahead necessary measures and actions to mitigate potential impact on their operations and business.

However, the convenience of cheap gas continued to drive demand, he said.

"Because of the high gas utilisation, we have to operate our upstream and downstream facilities at full capacity on a continuous basis for many years without any operating margin. This is simply not sustainable and cannot continue.

"Despite that, we continue to undertake our regular maintenance. Therefore it is incorrect for some parties to say that Petronas and its upstream partners are not doing maintenance and that the tight supply of gas is due only to maintenance issue," he added.

Anuar said as indigenous production was not able to meet demand, Petronas had been purchasing piped gas at market prices from external sources.

From January to August this year, about 37 per cent of Peninsular Malaysia's gas needs were met by imports from Indonesia and from gas developed in the overlapping Malaysia-Thai and Malaysia-Vietnam areas.

However, he warned that securing such supply might soon become a challenge as production at these sources were also decreasing, which would mean less molecules for Petronas to purchase.

"We are positive that our receiving terminal in Melaka, and the one planned for Johor, would help ease the supply situation. However, there is still a need to address the fuel-mix issue for power generation to ensure the security of power supply in the country. We cannot be over-dependent on gas.

"Malaysia's hydrocarbon resources are finite. Petronas believes that everyone has a role to play in making the nation more energy efficient.

Assigning blame on any party will not help. At Petronas, we are doing our utmost to meet our gas supply obligations. If all of us do our bit, we would be able to prolong the life of our resources for the benefit of our children and future generations," he added.

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Petronas to cut production loss with PRBI software

Petronas will save production lost due to shutdowns at its plant for inspection by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) with the introduction of its Online Risk-Based Inspection (PRBI) Interface software.

Petronas’ technology and engineering division vice president Dr Colin Wong said the software would be an online approval system for the issuance of certificates of fitness (CF) of DOSH-registered machinery at its plants.

“For example, our refinery plant in Melaka processes around 300,000 barrels (sweet crude oil and condensate) per day and we make around US$5 to US$10 per barrel.
“We need to have one or two shutdowns per year on average.

“We also have the IPC (Integrated Petrochemical Complex) in Kerteh (Terengganu) and Gebeng (Kuantan, Pahang), as well as plants in Bintulu (Sarawak) and Labuan, if we look at the whole country around five shutdowns a year,” he told reporters here yesterday.

He made the remarks after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Petronas and DOSH to facilitate the introduction of the software.

Wong signed on behalf of Petronas while DOSH was represented by its director-general Datuk Dr Johari Basri.

Under the terms of the MoU, DOSH would have access to Petronas PRBI software using the Online PRBI Interface, developed to enhance the efficiency of the CF issuance process to Petronas by DOSH.

Wong said with the Online PRBI Interface, DOSH would be able to ulitise and access risk-based data from remote locations and minimise mobilisation and site visits by DOSH personnel prior to the inspection process.

He said Petronas’ Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Bintulu would be the first complex to use the PRBI interface.

“Petronas developed PRBI around 10 years ago to provide a central database that facilitates the equipment risk-ranking process through a web-based platform, allowing the data to be conveniently accessed.

“The Online PRBI Interface is a much awaited add-on for PRBI.

“This will also promote the implementation of self-regulation in Malaysia’s oil and gas industry,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johari said the plant has to shut down an average of seven days for an inspection.

“Seven days means a lot of production lost for a company and Petronas’ development of this software is most welcome in making sure they minimise their production loss and help us to inspect then issue the CF for the machinery.

“We inspect around 150,000 machines a year for their CF, and the software speeds up our work.

“DOSH personel still have to go to the plant to inspect but not as often as before, and the period of inspection can also be minimised,” he said.

He also urged other industrial companies in Malaysia to develop similar software to minimise plant shutdown and lost production.

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Petronas wants to boost overseas oil & gas ventures

Malaysia's oil and gas firm Petronas wants to "high grade" its international operations by acquiring more valuable assets and exiting from less profitable ventures, the Edge newspaper reported today.

The weekly paper cited Petronas Executive Vice President of Exploration and Production Wee Yiaw Hin as saying the state-linked firm was keen on expanding in Asia, West Africa and South America.

"We actually want to grow our international operations. We will get out of those (countries) where profitability is low. And we have a few more on the list," Wee was quoted as saying.

"Algeria is one. Over there, there is not a big field to develop, costs have gone up, profitability is very weak and its not easy to succeed," he added.

In recent months Petronas has announced plans to develop marginal oil fields back home and exit ventures in Pakistan and Ethiopia, triggering speculation the oil firm was scaling down on international operations.

Petronas, which has a presence in 23 countries, is deriving good value from operations in Sudan, Myanmar, Turkmenistan and Vietnam and is on the lookout for "new basins and a few value growth areas" in these regions, Wee said.

He said Brazil and West Africa are also key targets for Petronas that will continue to grow its international business through government-to-government deals.

"We will (also) go according to business fundamentals, for example, in areas like western Africa and Brazil, which have 21 billion barrels of oil," said Wee, who has worked in Shell for 30 years.

"We have looked at the rocks, we are quite clear that the rocks are good and we are sure there will be success."

The four oil blocks in Iraq that Petronas won the rights to jointly develop will hit first commercial production by early as end 2012, Wee said. – Reuters

Monday, 31 October 2011

Petronas: policy to award licences to oil/gas firms stands

Malaysia's state oil firm Petronas said on Friday it has not changed its policy of awarding licences to companies involved in its oil and gas production areas.

Petronas denied a local media report that said it would abolish its licensing system as part of a move to encourage greater competition in the oil and gas industry.

"All companies wishing to commence or continue any business or service related to Malaysia's oil and gas upstream operations and activities must apply for a licence from Petronas," the firm said in a statement.

"This policy... has not changed and applies to all local and foreign company service providers and suppliers," Petronas added.

Saturday, 29 October 2011

Kuantan residents threaten sit-in if rare earth ore arrives

Kuantan folk have threatened to block operations of a controversial rare earth plant by holding a sit-in as claims that Lynas Corp is ready to ship in ore has heightened tension among increasingly nervous residents.

Although the Australian miner has denied any plans to ship in material from its Mount Weld mine, it has also said it is confident of starting operations by the end of the year.

Leaders of local anti-Lynas movements told The Malaysian Insider that after more than six months of lobbying against the RM1.3 billion refinery due to fears of radiation pollution, residents are now threatening to stop the plant at all cost.

“They are threatening to lie down in front of the factory. People are getting nervous and some are planning to move out of Kuantan,” Save Malaysia Stop Lynas chief Tan Bun Teet said.

This is despite the federal government giving its assurance that “there will be no importation of raw materials into the country, and no operational activities will be allowed on site” until Lynas meets conditions set out in July by an international team of radiation experts.

Although none of the community leaders contacted by The Malaysian Insider have planned a sit-in, they also refused to take responsibility over public anger should the government allow Lynas to bring in the ore to Kuantan port.

“I am not in control of the people. If it comes down to that (ore in Kuantan), people have said that they are prepared to sit-in,” said Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, who has led protests against the plant.

Andansura Rabu, whose Badar represents Beserah residents living as close as two kilometres away from the plant in the Gebeng industrial zone, said that after last Sunday’s Green Gathering had its police permit pulled at the 11th hour, locals were “getting more tense.”

“Anything can happen,” he said.

PKR vice-president Fuziah said yesterday the Kuantan Port Consortium told occupants of the port area “that Malaysia can expect the rare earth oxide from Mount Weld to arrive in Kuantan by the end of this month.”

Some 1,000 people, led by Fuziah and Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, gathered in Kuantan over the weekend in protest against Lynas.

Lynas has refuted claims of radiation pollution, assuring Kuantan residents they would face “zero exposure.”

It is awaiting approval from the government after submitting its proposals on 11 conditions recommended by an expert review panel from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

These include a comprehensive, long-term and detailed plan for waste management that covers decommissioning and remediation.

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Malaysia's Petronas announces tender in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- The Malaysian Petronas Carigali Baisun Operating Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petronas Carigali Overseas, has announced a tender for the provision of comprehensive services for the appraisal drilling in 2011-2014 under the PSA to develop gas fields in Boysun investment bloc in the Surkhandarya region in southern Uzbekistan, local media reported.

The report did not specify the parameters of the appraisal drilling program.

The principal directions of the further implementation of the PSA are conducting in-depth evaluation work to open up new and evaluate hydrocarbon reserves in the identified fields.

The bids are accepted until Nov. 21, and it will be summarized in late 2011.

Monday, 24 October 2011

Dayang shares up after Murphy contract extension

Shares of Malaysian oil and gas services provider Dayang Enterprise Holdings Bhd rose as much as 5.3 per cent today after its maintenance services contract with Murphy Oil was extended.

The value of the contract was estimated to range between RM50-RM100 million (US$15.9-US$31.8 million) to provide topside maintenance services.

Dayang shares were up 4.1 per cent to RM1.77 per share as at 0824 GMT, compared to the broader market’s rise of 1.1 per cent. – Reuters

Petronas to award jobs to unlicensed firms, report says

State oil firm Petronas will award contracts to unlicensed energy services companies to encourage greater competition in the oil and gas industry, The Edge weekly newspaper said citing unidentified sources.

The move would be a departure from the current practice where Petronas only hands out jobs to licensed players in certain segments such as oil and gas equipment makers and offshore support vessel operators, the report said.

The liberalisation measure is aimed at drawing more foreign investment to develop Malaysia as a regional energy hub, it added.

Petronas was not immediately available for comment.

The move would expose local energy services companies such as Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Bhd , Kencana Petroleum and Ramunia Holdings Bhd to competition.

But the change would not apply to the bumiputra vendor programme, where companies controlled by ethnic Malays are given preference under a policy aimed at redistributing national wealth, The Edge said.

Thursday, 20 October 2011

MMHE to Fabricate Topsides and Jackets for Exxon's Project, Offshore Malaysia

ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc. (EMEPMI), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, has signed a RM236 million contract with Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd (MMHE) to fabricate facilities for the Telok Gas development project in offshore Terengganu.

Its chairman and president Hugh W. Thompson said MMHE will fabricate and construct the topsides and platform jackets for the project operated by ExxonMobil.

“The project will involve installation of two gas satellite platforms, Telok A and B, tied back to the existing Guntong gas hub and the installation of facilities is planned to commence in the third quater of 2012,” he said in his speech at the contract signing ceremony here today.

He said 14 development wells are planned in the project which is expected to start in the first quarter of 2013.

”This will provide additional supplies for Malaysia’s power and industrial needs and also help promote the overall growth of the natural gas sector,” he added.

Thompson said an estimated 1,400 workers will be involved in various aspects of the fabrication, project management and support services at the yard and at the site and main offices.

“The fabrication work will take appoximately 18 months and during this period, we expect that the presence of the large project workforce will also be contributing towards the local economy,” he said.

At the ceremony Thompson represented EMEPMI while MMHE was represented by its managing director-cum-chief executive officer Dominique De Soras.

De Soras in his speech said the project comprises two topsides and two corresponding jackets supporting the platforms.

“The topsides, known as Telok A and Telok B, are unmanned facilities wellhead topsides with an estimated weight of 1,735 metric tonnes (MT) and 1,648 MT respectively.

“Both topsides are expected to produce 450 million standard cubic foot (MSCF) of gas per day in the Telok field offshore peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu),” he added.

CSWIP Welding Inspector 3.1 course at Shah Alam

We will conduct CSWIP Welding Inspector 3.1 at Shah Alam in November. Details regarding the course are as follow :

Date :
14 ~ 18 November 2011

Time:
9.00am ~ 5.00pm

Exam date:
21 November 2011

Location:
ANGKASA TRAINING CENTER
JALAN TENGKU AMPUAN ZABEDAH
K9/9 SEC 9
40100 SHAH ALAM SELANGOR
(Behind Concorde Hotel)

Course fee & exam (initial) :
RM5,000 only

Lecturer :
From TWI

Please feel free to email us at duniandt@yahoo.com.my for further clarification.

Many thanks & best regards

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Traditional owners meet Malaysian gas chiefs

Traditional owners from the Port Curtis Coral Coast Native Claimant Group travelled to Kuala Lumpur recently to meet with Petronas senior executives.

Gladstone resident Tony Blackman was among the delegation, which was led by Mackay-based Mal Walker. Santos Australia representatives also attended.

The delegation was briefed on the $16 billion GLNG Gladstone Project.

They were also given a tour of the Petronas LNG plant in Bintulu Sarawak - the largest stand alone LNG plant in the world.

Mr Walker said the visit could signal massive employment, training and business opportunities for Queensland's indigenous people.

"Everyone will benefit - not just Murris, all people."

"After meeting the senior executives of Petronas at the official launch of the GLNG project on Curtis Island in May this year we were extended a personal invitation to meet with them in Malaysia, to see for ourselves what impact the plant may have on our traditional lands.

"Additionally, Petronas, its partners Santos, Korea Gas and European energy conglomerate Total along with construction contractors Bechtel, have given major undertakings in regard to indigenous employment, training and business opportunities that we wished to pursue on a personal level.'

'Santos, Petronas and partners in the GLNG Project have been considerate of the community's needs, and wish to ensure that this project will leave a positive and lasting legacy, particularly in regard to the traditional owners," Mr Walker said.

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

SILK bags Petronas Carigali jobs

SILK Holdings Bhd unit Jasa Merin (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has been awarded three long-term charter contracts from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd worth RM55.3 million.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia today, SILK said each contract is for the provision of one Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel (AHTSV).

The long-term contracts for two of the vessels, which will commence in October, are for a primary period of one year each, with an option to extend a further year.

The third vessel, to commence in early November, has a two-year primary contract period, with an option to extend another year.

The contracts are expected to contribute positively to SILK's earnings and net assets for the financial years ending July 31, 2012 and July 31, 2013 but will not affect the company's share capital and shareholding structure, it added.

Friday, 14 October 2011

KNM wins US$200m Sri Lanka contractel

Units of Malaysian oil and gas services provider KNM Group Bhd’s have secured a Sri Lankan waste-to-energy plant contract worth US$200 million (RM624 million), the company said in a stock exchange filing today.

The subsidiaries, led by KNM Process Systems Sdn Bhd, will undertake the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the plant in Colombo awarded by Orizon Renewable Energy (Pvt) Ltd.

Orizon is a subsidiary of Malaysia’s Octagon Consolidated Bhd. The construction of the plant will commence in the second quarter of 2012 and will be completed in 2014, Octagon said in an earlier statement.

The project is not expected to contribute positively to KNM’s financial performance until 2012. — Reuters

Heat Exchangers

Function :
A heat exchanger is a piece of equipment built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another. The media may be separated by a solid wall, so that they never mix, or they may be in direct contact.[1] They are widely used in space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, power plants, chemical plants, petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries, natural gas processing, and sewage treatment. The classic example of a heat exchanger is found in an internal combustion engine in which a circulating fluid known as engine coolant flows through radiator coils and air flows past the coils, which cools the coolant and heats the incoming air.
Contruction Code & NDT :
TEMA or ASME
Technique Inspection :
Titanium, Stainless Steel, CuNi, AlBrass - Eddy Current
Carbon Steel - IRIS or RFET
In-service defect :
Tube leaking, Erosion, attack at buffer plate area.

Baffle plate normally will give false indication to RFET & Eddy Current. However, please interpreate the baffle plate areas for fretting defect or Ammonia attack.

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

New Petronas training centre in Kimanis

Sabah will be home to a new RM50mil oil and gas training centre in south-western Kimanis about 80km from here.

Petronas is setting up Kimanis Petroleum Training Centre by 2013. Currently, the centre is operating from temporary premises in Membakut Jaya.

The temporary facility was opened yesterday by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, who is the Kimanis MP.

Petronas vice-president (exploration and production business) Ramlan A. Malek said: “The centre is another step by Petronas in our efforts to develop the capability here and create a pool of skilled personnel among Sabahans who will participate in and contribute towards the development of the oil and gas industry.”

He said the company hoped that the facility would help qualified Sabahan youths find employment.

At present, he said 25 Sabahans were undergoing training at the Membakut Jaya centre.

Petronas is expecting to spend about RM45bil in large-scale projects in Sabah and these include the power plants in Kimanis and Lahad Datu, an oil and gas terminal, a 512km gas pipeline between Sabah and Sarawak and a fertiliser plant in Sipitang.

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

KNM wins US$200m Sri Lanka contractel

Units of Malaysian oil and gas services provider KNM Group Bhd’s have secured a Sri Lankan waste-to-energy plant contract worth US$200 million (RM624 million), the company said in a stock exchange filing today.

The subsidiaries, led by KNM Process Systems Sdn Bhd, will undertake the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the plant in Colombo awarded by Orizon Renewable Energy (Pvt) Ltd.

Orizon is a subsidiary of Malaysia’s Octagon Consolidated Bhd. The construction of the plant will commence in the second quarter of 2012 and will be completed in 2014, Octagon said in an earlier statement.

The project is not expected to contribute positively to KNM’s financial performance until 2012.

Keppel Mourns Loss of 5 Shipyard Workers

Mr. Mok Kim Whang, President and General Manager of Keppel Subic Shipyard, expressed deep regret over the incident that occurred at the Keppel Subic Shipyard in the Philippines on October 7, 2011 at around 10:20 am in the morning.

The incident occurred at a dock where a vessel was being repaired. A stern ramp fell on a scaffolding underneath a ramp where the workers were working. As a result, five of the workers died while seven were injured.

The injured workers have been sent to the hospital.

Keppel would like to offer its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and are rendering the necessary assistance to them.

The investigation is still on-going, and Keppel is cooperating with the authorities in the Philippines.

Labuan Shipyard to Build PSV for Tanjung Offshore

The recent signing of a RM100 million contract by Labuan Shipyard Engineering Sdn Bhd (LSE) for the engineering, construction, testing and delivery of a 77m DP2 Diesel-Electric Propulsion Platform Supply Vessel with Tanjung Kapal Services Sdn Bhd (TKS) has placed the company in a better position in the marine and oil & gas industries.

Its chief executive officer, Mohd Azman Nasir, told Bernama Thursday the project, the first to be built in the country, would be designed to transport deck cargo, personnel, consumables and equipment between the offshore platform and shore base. It would also cover the areas of external fire fighting, pollution prevention and rescue operations.

“We are glad to be given such a big role and trust by TKS to undertake the project, this would enable us to play our role in the growth and development of the marine and oil & gas industries of the country,” he said.

The contract, signed on Sept 30, also marks a significant milestone in the continuous business and working relationship between LSE and TKS, he said.

He said LSE would execute the project in accordance with the stringent safety and quality standards and requirements of the marine and oil & gas industries.

This is LSE’s first major marine project designed to serve the upstream oil & gas sector, he said, adding that the company was looking forward to taking on bigger roles in the development of the industry.

Monday, 10 October 2011

Malaysian O&G Firms Secure UK Contracts Worth RM5.2 Million

Nine Malaysian oil and gas firms which participated at the Offshore Europe 2011 exhibition have secured RM5.2 million in contracts for safety equipment and mechanical seals.

In a statement today, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said the contracts included the sale of fire retardant coveralls and safety shoes worth RM5 million.

The exhibition was held from Sept 6-8, in Aberdeen, the United Kingdom.

"An additional RM54.7 million in potential sales are under negotiation through the exhibition.

"The business segments involved are for customised rotating equipment, design, fabrication and packing of components, lubricants, fluids, greases, coolants, oil treatments, software on online vessel business risk management, mechanical seals, gaskets and containers," the agency said.

Matrade also said that Malaysia has gained international recognition and established an excellent track record in the global oil and gas industry.

"As a continuous effort by Matrade to enhance and promote the exports of Malaysian products and services in the oil and gas sector, the agency will be organising similar programmes to Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Basra (Iraq) and Yangon (Myanmar)," it added.

Sunday, 9 October 2011

Production Separator

Function :  Separate between oil, water & gas. 
Slug Catcher : Reduce the effect of slugs (Large gas bubles or liquid plugs)
Construction Code : ASME VIII 
NDT Acceptence Criteria : ASME V & ASME VIII
In-service Defect : Normally at the Inlet & Water Out. Between phase level (water/oil/gas) 

Saturday, 8 October 2011

MHI Receives Large-scale Fertilizer Plant Order To Produce Ammonia and Urea in Malaysia

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), jointly with APEX Energy Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia, and PT Rekayasa Industri (REKIND) in Indonesia, has received an order from PETRONAS Chemical Fertilizer Sabah Sdn. Bhd. (PCFSSB) for a project to construct a large-scale ammonia/urea fertilizer plant. PCFSSB is a subsidiary of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG), which is an affiliate company of PETRONAS, the national oil company of Malaysia.

The contract was signed today in Malaysia. The plant will be the first large-scale fertilizer plant order from Malaysia in 15 years since1996 when MHI received an order from PETRONAS.

The new urea fertilizer plant will be built in Sipitang, approximately 145 kilometers southwest of Kota Kitabalu, the mercantile city in Sabah State on the Island of Borneo. Using natural gas as its feedstock, the plant will have a capacity to produce 2,100 mtpd (metric tons per day) of ammonia and 3,850 mtpd of urea fertilizer.

It will adopt process technologies from Haldor TopsΦe A/S of Denmark, Saipem S.p.A. of Italy, and Uhde Fertilizer Technology B.V. of the Netherlands. The plant is slated to go into production in 2015.

The order calls for plant engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). MHI, as leader of the consortium, will be responsible for the basic and detailed design work, the procurement of equipment and the dispatch of technical advisors for installation and test operation. APEX Energy and REKIND will take charge of a portion of the equipment procurement and construction work.

PCFSSB is a company selected by PCG to implement the fertilizer plant construction project and its operation after completion. APEX Energy is a construction company, which locates its head office in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. REKIND is a plant engineering company headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Sabah State of Malaysia, which has prospered as a tourist destination and timber supply area, is abundant in natural gas and increasing its interest in fertilizer production as the State seeks higher value from its natural gas resources and pursues advances in industrial development and agriculture. The fertilizer plant construction project is in line with these initiatives.

MHI received an order in 1996 and delivered an ammonia/urea fertilizer production plant to PETRONAS Fertilizer (Kedah) Sdn. Bhd., PF(K)SB, a subsidiary of PETRONAS, in 1999. The high evaluation made by PETRONAS of the operational track record of the PF(K)SB's plant is believed to have led to this new project.

The demand for fertilizer is expected to continue expanding steadily due to rising food production needs in response to global population growth.

In Asia in particular, demand for fertilizer plants is increasing for the replacement of old plants. MHI, building on the strength of this latest large-scale order, now looks to conduct aggressive marketing activities in a quest to boost its presence in the fertilizer plant market in Asia while also targeting orders worldwide in the fields of synthetic gas and petrochemicals.

Friday, 7 October 2011

Hassan Marican appointed director of US oil giant

Tan Sri Hassan Marican, who retired as Petronas CEO last year because of friction with the Najib administration, has accepted another directorship outside Malaysia, this time at US oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips.

Since leaving Petronas at the beginning of last year, Marican has accepted several directorships with Singapore GLCs including at Sembcorp, SembCorp Marine and Singapore Power.

ConocoPhillips said today that Marican was appointed as a new outside director effective December 1, 2011.

Marican was part of the board that had appeared to have clashed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak back in late 2009 over the appointment of a former senior aide as a Petronas director despite the prime minister having absolute powers in board appointments.
It was reported then that the former aide — Omar Mustapha — was rejected twice and was appointed only after Najib had put his foot down.

Petronas had also decided not to sponsor the Malaysian-backed Lotus F1 Racing team, going instead with the Mercedes Formula One team.

Marican was widely credited with turning Petronas into the only other state-run major international player in the oil and gas space apart from Norway’s Statoil.

The former Petronas chief stepped down on February 2010 after 15 years with the company and was appointed a director with Singapore GLC Sembcorp Industries by June.

Marican’s flurry of overseas appointments also come at a time when Malaysia is grappling with a chronic brain drain that threatens to derail its developed country ambitions.

ConocoPhillips is a global integrated energy company. The company is headquartered in Houston with approximately 29,900 employees, US$160 billion (RM506.05 billion) of assets and US$244 billion in annualised revenues as of June 30, 2011.

Thursday, 6 October 2011

NAFAS Plans To Expand Fertiliser Plant In Gurun

The National Farmers Association (NAFAS) plans to implement the second phase of the expansion of its fertiliser plant,Petronas Fertiliser Kedah (PFK) in Gurun, to meet increasing demand.

NAFAS chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the plant expansion is currently being finalised and is expected to be implemented in the near future.

He said PFK had the capacity to produce 310,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser annually but was producing only 270,000 metric tonnes at present.

"The expansion will almost double the production capacity of PFK," he told reporters after closing a leadership course for children of farmers and the launch of the technical and executive scheme for farmers children(ATTES) at the EDC-UUM here last night.

NAFAS through its subsidiary, Malaysian NPK Fertiliser Sdn Bhd (MNFSB), owns a 80 per cent stake in PFK, while the remaining 20 per cent is held by Petronas Fertilizer Sdn Bhd (PFK). The company is a subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

PFK is also the largest producer of fertiliser in South East Asia and is set over 29.14 hectares (72 acres), Abdul Rashid said, while adding, just 30 per cent of the total area, has yet to be developed.

He however declined to state the cost of the plant expansion.

"The aim of the project is to produce quality fertiliser at a competitive price to aid farmers," he said.

Meanwhile, the ATTES is specifically to assist university graduates in the technical field related to agriculture, with the aim of giving them useful experience.

Abdul Rashid said NAFAS had allocated RM200,000 to undertake the pioneer scheme from January next year and it would involve 20 graduates who would be paid a monthly allowance of RM1,200 to attend training for a year.

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Sembcorp Marine appoints ex-Petronas CEO to the board

(Reuters) - Singapore's Sembcorp Marine has appointed the former CEO of Malaysian oil giant Petronas, Mohd Hassan Marican, as an independent director on its board.

Hassan, an accountant who put Malaysia's national oil firm on the world map, currently serves as a director of Sarawak Energy Berhad, Sembcorp Industries, Singapore Power and Lambert Energy Advisory Ltd.

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Subsea Manifold

A subsea manifold is a structure which are built to stay in deep water. Normally its was built for deep & ultradeep water ranges  7,000 ft or more. 
Construction Code :- API & AWS 
NDT Spec :- AWS 
Example Company that built this in Malaysia :- Aker

Monday, 3 October 2011

Puncak acquires Global Offshore Malaysia

Malaysian water treatment company Puncak Niaga will fully acquire construction and subsea services company Global Offshore Malaysia (GOM) and pipelay barge owner KGL for $59 million, the company has announced.

Puncak had agreed to spend $23.6 million to acquire a 40% stake in the companies in May this year under an arrangement with Global International Vessels, with an option to acquire the remaining 60% at a later date.

Puncak told Bursa Malaysia Thursday that it had had decided to exercise that option – meaning the two companies would become its subsidiaries with immediate effect.

At the time of its May acquisition, the company said in an announcement that the acquisition would give it a platform for entry into the oil and gas industry.

“With the acquisition ... Puncak Group will have the necessary licences required to undertake oil and gas works in conjunction with Petronas,” it said at the time.

“The acquisition will enable Puncak Group to make further forays into the oil and gas industry which the Group has identified as a sector (in which) it intends to strengthen its presence and emerge as a significant player.”

GOM was awarded the contract for integrated transportation and installation of offshore facilities for the first stake of a pipelay barge contract for Petronas Carigali and a consortium of ten other oil companies, Puncak said at the time.

Labuan-based KGL is the owner of pipelay barge DLB 264.

Sunday, 2 October 2011

Kursus CSWIP Welding Inspector 3.1

Salam semua

Pihak kami akan menjalankan kursus CSWIP WELDING INSPECTOR 3.1 di Shah Alam, Selangor. Sijil kehadiran dan pensyarah adalah dari The Welding Institute (TWI).

Masa dan tarikh adalah flexible.

Yuran kursus dan exam (initial) ialah RM5,000.

Sila email kepada kami untuk pertanyaan dan tempahan. Tempat adalah terhad kepada 10 orang sahaja.