By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 3: Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), via its Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), has officially launched the Hydraulic Workover Unit (HWU) Academy on October 23.
According to a press statement by PETRONAS, the launching of HWU Academy marked a significant move to cultivate Malaysian talent and bolster national capabilities in the crucial field of well abandonment and decommissioning.
Senior Vice President of MPM, Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, underscored PETRONAS’ commitment to ensuring a continuous pipeline of skilled professionals which is vital for conducting safe, cost-efficient, and sustainable Plug and Abandonment (P&A) operations, a fundamental part of Malaysia’s upstream asset lifecycle.
“The HWU Academy’s programmes are designed to equip Malaysians with the technical expertise needed to lead in emerging opportunities, complementing the national Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda for hands-on, industry-relevant training,” he said.
Bacho added that the initiative is in line with PETRONAS’ aspiration to strengthen the local oil and gas ecosystem by empowering Malaysians to take a leading role in shaping the future of the industry.
He said Velesto Energy Academy and ZNUSS would be the first to embark on this exciting training journey, which underscores their shared commitment to ensuring continuity, consistency, and standardisation in developing Malaysia’s HWU capability through the HWU academy’s framework.
Building on the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MPM and industry partners, the HWU Academy progressed from concept to implementation, including two successful pilot training sessions to validate the programme framework.
Serving as a centre of excellence, the HWU Academy will provide hands-on training using retired assets such as the Velesto HWU Gait-01 training unit.
Learners will also benefit from technology-driven modules developed in collaboration with Halliburton, featuring virtual reality simulators and digital learning tools to enhance technical proficiency and operational readiness.
In addition, the academy will strengthen academic–industry collaboration through strategic partnerships with leading universities such as Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA (KKTM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), as well as with key ministries including the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) and the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT), and the Malaysian Oil and Gas Services Council (MOGSC).
These collaborations aim to facilitate student enrolment, programme accreditation and grant accessibility, while attracting both local and international talent.
For more information or to explore training opportunities with the HWU Academy, interested participants may contact mpmhwuacademy@petronas.com.my —DayakDaily
