MUSCAT, Oman, Jan 17: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to pave the way for collaboration with the oil and gas (O&G) industries in Sarawak.
The first MOU was signed between South Sea Energy (SSE) that is affiliated to Sarawak and Petrotel Energy Oman LLC (PTO) for exploration and production rights in Oman.
The second MOU was signed between Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), Sarawak’s newly-formed O&G company, SSE and PTO.
Petros chairman Tan Sri Hamid Bugo and board member Datu Zuraimi Sabki signed for Petros, SSE president Lily Chin and executive director Tiong Kiong King for SSE, and PTO chairman and chief executive Dr Anil Chopra and chief operating officer Mike Lucich for PTO.
The Chief Minister and members of his delegation who are on a five-day working visit to Oman and UAE, arrived at the Omani capital yesterday as part of the efforts to explore possibilities of co-operation to develop the downstream sector of oil and gas industries in Sarawak.
Earlier, Abang Johari led members of his delegation to pay a courtesy visit on the Omani Oil and Gas Minister, Dr Mohammed Hamad Al Rumhi at his office here.
The Omani minister in his opening address warmly welcomed the delegation and prospects of collaboration with Sarawak.
The Chief Minister in his return address to the Omani minister expressed confidence that Oman and Sarawak could work together for mutual benefits given a bright future for petrochemical products leveraging on the trend of switching from internal combustion engines to electric-driven cars which is in line with the Industry 4.0 and Digital Economy initiatives.
As Oman and Sarawak shared similarities demographically and the fact that both are oil producing states, Abang Johari said such similarities would augur well for enhancing bilateral ties between the two economies.
Members of the Chief Minister’s delegation were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, State Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Hamid.
Others members included Deputy State Secretary Datu Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Energy CEO Sharbini Suhaili, who is also a board member of Petros, and General Manager of Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) Rodziah Morshidi.
Also present during the visit was the Malaysian Ambassador to Oman, His Excellency Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany.
Later today the delegation will proceed to Dubai on the second leg of the visit before flying back to Kuching at the end of the week.
Yesterday evening, the Chief Minister was given a briefing and overview of the prospects and possibilities of co-operation in the O&G sector between the various parties in Sarawak by SSE at a leading hotel here. — DayakDaily
