By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 17: Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and its partners launched the PETRONAS Energy Transition Academy (P-ETA) at the second edition of the Energy Asia conference on Monday (June 16), marking a significant step toward building a future-ready energy workforce for the low-carbon economy.
P-ETA, established through PETRONAS’ technical training arm, Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP), is open to global energy industry participants. The academy is designed to equip learners with critical skills and knowledge needed to navigate the rapidly evolving energy landscape shaped by decarbonisation, renewable technologies, and energy efficiency.
Officiating the launch at the conference held in Kuala Lumpur, PETRONAS president and Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik stated that the company envisioned P-ETA as a foundation for an inclusive and equitable energy future—one that is shaped by professionals equipped with the vital skillsets to meet the world’s rising energy demands.
“As PETRONAS continues to advance our Energy Transition Strategy to balance energy security, affordability, and sustainability, P-ETA will provide equitable access to training programmes specifically curated to support the transition,” he said in a media release.
During the launch, INSTEP signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with key training partners—SEDA Malaysia, the UK-based Energy Institute, and OPITO—to collaborate on developing world-class programmes aligned with international standards.
Through these partnerships, P-ETA will offer specialised training in key areas such as carbon management, hydrogen technologies, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and circular economy practices. Programmes will be delivered at INSTEP’s Terengganu campus, with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and hands-on training.
The establishment of P-ETA supports the broader goals of the energy transition, which is critical in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.
Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap projects that the transition could generate up to 310,000 jobs in the country by 2050, underscoring the importance of upskilling and reskilling the current and future workforce.
The P-ETA launch coincided with a High-Level Session on Decarbonisation hosted by PETRONAS, which underscored the strategic importance of methane emissions reduction and broader decarbonisation initiatives. The session featured a panel of speakers from PETRONAS, the International Society for Energy Transition Studies, and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), who shared insights into progress and challenges in driving decarbonisation.
The session also spotlighted the ongoing development of the Southeast Asia Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Centre (METEC)—the first of its kind in the region. The centre is expected to enhance regional capabilities in methane measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification, alongside supporting research and development activities.
Under an existing partnership between PETRONAS and JOGMEC, an engineering study is currently underway for the establishment of METEC at INSTEP in Terengganu and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) in Perak. This collaboration was first announced in October 2024 during the launch of the ASEAN Energy Sector Methane Leadership Programme 2.0, an initiative aimed at strengthening emissions reduction targets and fostering collaboration between regional governments and industry players in support of the Global Methane Pledge.
Also present were PETRONAS Group chief human resources officer Ruslan Halim Islahudin, PETRONAS chief sustainability officer Charlotte Wolff-Bye; Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia CEO Koh Keng Seng, Energy Institute (UK) CEO Dr Nick Wayth, OPITO COO Alex Spencer and INSTEP CEO Azhar Ahmad. — DayakDaily
