By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 4: Brooke Dockyard & Engineering Works Corporation has today inked a contract with Shell Sarawak Bhd to deliver a Timi offshore platform that will be powered by solar and wind in a first for Shell’s operations in Malaysia and projected to be twice the height of Wisma Bapa Malaysia.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the contract signing ceremony between the two parties for the provision of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the fixed off-shore structure works for the development of Shell’s Timi field gas field held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
Discovered in 2018 under the SK318 Product Sharing Contract (PSC), the Timi gas field is situated about 200km off the coast of Miri.
Abang Johari commended Shell for embarking on this bold move which sits well within Sarawak green economy agenda as it would enable the State to move towards a faster energy transition.
“We are treating the green economy agenda in Sarawak seriously, as while we are witnessing this collaboration, the world leaders are talking about climate change (at the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, Scotland).
“I hope with this partnership and transfer of technology, perhaps new technology, we are able to move forward in our effort to transition to a green economy,” he said while addressing the event.
With Sarawak also exploring hydrogen as part of the renewable energy sources, he emphasised that this demonstrated the Sarawak government’s serious efforts to position Sarawak with the rest of the world especially when it comes to green economy as sustainability is one of the key elements in the State’s development plan.
Noting that Shell has decided to establish its upstream headquarters in Miri, Abang Johari gave assurance of Sarawak government’s support not only for Shell Malaysia but also Petronas as well as state-owned Petros.
“I hope Brooke Dockyard will deliver this project on schedule in a safe manner,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shell Malaysia chairman and senior vice president for Upstream Ivan Tan pointed out that the development of Timi is essential to supplying gas to Sarawak and Malaysia.
“Timi will be developed as a normally unmanned platform which will be tied into the (existing) Shell-operated F23 hub platform via a 80-km pipeline.
“The Timi platform has groundbreaking features and it actually sets us up for a more sustainable future energy. For example, the minimalist design with lowest weight (60 per cent lighter) and footprint size. It will be the deepest jacket Shell installed.
“The team has designed it to be fully powered by renewable sources of wind and solar which is very much in line with Sarawak’s green economy agenda,” he said.
With Shell and Brooke Dockyard relationship beginning way back in 1980s, Tan is proud that both companies have grown from strength to strength in that today, they can take on a wide range of comprehensive services in the oil and gas industry.
“Shell aspires to continue as a key partner and investor in the oil and gas industry in the State as we have been in Sarawak for the past 110 years.
“We have grown together with Sarawak and we hope to continue to progress in exploration in the development of opportunities that we still have in the oil and gas industry here together with our partners, Petronas and Petros,” he added.
Tan is confident that Shell together with Sarawak and partners will be able to leverage their joint expertises and capabilities to successfully deliver the Timi platform.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sarawak and Sabah Affairs) Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, Brooke Dockyard Corporation chairman Datu Safri Zainuddin and Petronas’ Malaysia Petroleum Management senior vice president Firouz Mohammad Asnan were among those present at the event. — DayakDaily
