By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 11: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) has reaffirmed its dedication to establishing a win-win partnership concerning the distribution of natural gas in Sarawak as it is currently in discussions with both the Sarawak and federal governments, as well as Sarawak-owned Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros).
This statement follows an article by Channel News Asia (CNA) on Sept 7, which reported, citing government sources, that PETRONAS might be considering a court injunction to preserve its role as the sole guardian of Malaysia’s hydrocarbon resources.
This comes amid Petros’ efforts to position itself as the sole gas aggregator in Sarawak, challenging PETRONAS’ long-standing dominance in the sector since 1974.
While PETRONAS did not confirm whether it is contemplating legal action to stop Sarawak from asserting its gas distribution rights, the national oil and gas corporation emphasised the importance of achieving a mutual resolution that respects the strengths and constraints of each party.
“Our position is that any resolution developed by all parties must have the country’s best interest at heart and should not jeopardise the economic stability of the country.
“To this end, PETRONAS remains fully committed to work together with all parties to preserve a thriving and conducive investment climate in Malaysia,” PETRONAS said in a statement issued yesterday (Sept 10).
Yesterday, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg also clarified that there is no issue between the Sarawak government and PETRONAS despite speculation of a potential legal dispute.
He emphasised that Petros is working together with PETRONAS and that discussions between the two parties are ongoing.
During a financial results announcement on Sept 5, PETRONAS President Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik acknowledged that while negotiations have been challenging, there have been no confrontations between PETRONAS and Petros.
“So I know some people are spreading either malinformed, misinformed or viciously informed articles about a confrontation between ourselves and Petros. Yes, the discussions and negotiations are difficult, but we have done so in a constructive, professional and engaging manner. Channels of communication remain open,” he said.
Affirming PETRONAS’ commitment to continuing its partnership with Sarawak, Taufik however stressed that while State laws apply, federal regulations also govern the operations that ensure uninterrupted, safe, reliable and secure gas supply.
It is worth noting that Sarawak supplies 90 per cent of Malaysia’s LNG exports. Furthermore, the federal government reports that Sarawak’s probable and proven petroleum reserves constitute 60.87 per cent of Malaysia’s total reserves, with Sabah accounting for around 18.8 per cent. — DayakDaily
