By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, June 27: Sarawak Petroleum Contractors Association (SPECA) is seeking to increase the participation of Sarawakian contractors in the local oil and gas (O&G) industry.
SPECA protem president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo believed that there are many job opportunities that Sarawakian O&G contractors can tap from national oil corporation Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) given the latter’s plan to further develop the O&G industry in Sarawak.
“We hope that Petronas will provide opportunities to contractors in Sarawak.
“SPECA will become an association which serves as the umbrella body for all the O&G contractors in Sarawak.
“With a strong voice, we hope to increase Sarawak’s O&G contractors participation and enable them to actively be involved in the O&G industry in Sarawak.
“We are supportive of the state government’s efforts to develop the downstream industries of the O&G sector,” he said during a press conference today.
Meanwhile, Rahman disclosed that SCEPA had just formed its protem committee and is waiting for the Registry of Societies Malaysia (RoS) to approve the setting up of the association.
Among those in the protem committee who were present during the association’s second meeting were protem vice president Jamel Ibrahim, protem secretary Ahmad Sazali Annuar, protem deputy secretary Arif Haqeem Ahmad Sazali and protem committee members Pohir Hamzah, Hafisz Rachman Drahman, Ryan Ng and Talha Affendi.
Rahman added that the association will work closely with the state government, Petronas and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) to provide benefit to all its members.
Meanwhile Jamel said Sarawakian contractors comprising experienced personnel in the O&G industry are capable and competent of handling the various jobs scope provided by Petronas.
He asserted that there are approximately 400 contractors linked to the O&G industry in Sarawak but not all are active.
Thus, he believed with the establishment of the association, there will be more members either from the corporate bodies and individuals joining the association.
In the meantime, Rahman noted the formation of SPECA has several objectives.
Among those are providing a platform for Sarawak-based contractors to share expertise and resources, an avenue to obtain O&G updates and outlook for the industry and a focal point for training and development of human capital in the industry. —DayakDaily
