By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 10: The government is evaluating whether crude oil supplies from potential new sources in Africa, Russia and Turkiye are compatible with Malaysia’s existing infrastructure before committing to long-term procurement arrangements.
According to TVS, Economy Minister Datuk Seri Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the assessment is part of the government’s efforts to diversify the country’s energy supply sources amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties affecting global markets.
He said compatibility with existing facilities remains a key consideration, as crude oil characteristics differ depending on the country and region of origin.
“It’s not simply a matter of sourcing supply from everywhere. We also need to determine whether supplies from certain locations are compatible with the facilities that we have,” he told reporters after officiating the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) Technology and Innovation Centre (NTIC) in Bayan Lepas, Penang today.
As Malaysia looks to strengthen its energy security, Akmal said the government is exploring several potential crude oil suppliers, including countries in Africa as well as Russia and Turkiye.
He added that greater clarity on supply assurances for the coming period is expected by the end of this month.
The government has adopted a transparent approach by announcing future supply availability only after sourcing arrangements, costs and supply agreements have been finalised.
“This does not mean that we will face difficulties until July. Supply assurances can only be given once agreements to secure those supplies have been confirmed,” he said.
The minister stressed that the move is aimed at ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply while reducing Malaysia’s exposure to disruptions arising from an increasingly volatile global environment.
Governments around the world have been seeking to strengthen energy resilience and diversify supply chains in response to geopolitical tensions and fluctuations in global energy markets. — DayakDaily
