KUCHING, June 19: The Sarawak government’s endorsement of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros)’s Conditional Award for Sarawak Onshore Block SK433 to Petra Energy Bhd and Uzma Bhd joint venture (JV) signifies a good start in its planning to take control and manage its oil and gas (O&G) resources.
Sarawak Petroleum Contractors Association (Speca) president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo said Petros is now moving forward to the next stage of its exploration and production (E&P) programme and more contracts to be awarded can be expected in months to come.
Be it upstream or downstream activities, he said this is a good opportunity for local Sarawak contractors to be involved.
“Petros is now moving forward to the next stage of its E&P programme since receiving the blocks from the Sarawak government in last October, 2020. Congratulations to Petros team headed by (its CEO) Datuk Saau Kakok.
“We would also like to congratulate the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government under the able leadership of its far-sighted Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“(This is) generally a good start for the Sarawak government in its planning to take control and manage its O&G resources,” he said in a statement today.
Congratulating Petra Energy and Uzma, two of the successful companies in the E&P sector, for winning the competitive bidding, he believed that the joint venture is able to bring positive results from the project at Block SK433, which covers Miri-Marudi area in Northern Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Rahman expressed hopes that Petros would look into the participation of local contractors in future contracts according to their area of expertise.
He said Speca has built itself by combining the capabilities of some 70 of its members, both technically and financially while partnering with foreign companies with the right expertise and assets.
Currently, he said Speca Consortium is looking at the provision of onshore drilling rigs and its associated services and supply.
“With the current uptrend of O&G prices, it (the Conditional Award) should bring good revenue to the Sarawak government in terms of sales tax.
“We trust Petra Energy-Uzma JV to be successful and we hope for Petros to also look into the offshore parts of Sarawak O&G resources if legally permitted,” he added.
It was on yesterday (June 18) that the Petra Energy-Uzma JV secured the 29-year contract from Petros for the exploration, development and production of petroleum in Block SK433, onshore Sarawak.
Petra Energy Development Sdn Bhd (PEDSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petra Energy will be the operator of the contract on behalf of Uzma Engineering Sdn Bhd (UESB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uzma Bhd. — DayakDaily
