MIRI, Oct 29: The Sarawak government hopes that Japan’s JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited will set up its regional base here to help the State’s oil and gas (O&G) industry thrive.
According to Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Shell Malaysia is upscaling its presence in Sarawak with its new Upstream Headquarters in Miri and hopes the Japanese company would follow suit.
“The development of the oil and gas sector is complex, capital intensive, and technically challenging, which is made possible riding on high oil and LNG prices.
“Currently, global uncertainties caused by geopolitical tensions and regional ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have created unprecedented demand for oil and natural gas products, especially in Europe and China,” said the International Trade, Industry, and Investment Minister at JX Nippon’s 20th-anniversary celebration of its 1st Gas Helang Field last night (Oct 28).
However, he added, guided by the foresightedness and smart governance of the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, and the implementation of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, Sarawak is well-positioned to leverage the State’s resources and meet the energy demand.
“In the past, the development of the oil and gas sector in Sarawak was mainly done by PETRONAS, with the participation of international oil and gas multinationals like JX Nippon and Shell.
“But today, Sarawak, through PETROS, is actively participating in upstream, midstream, and downstream activities to drive the development of the O&G industry as part of PCDS 2030,” he said.
Minister for Transport Sarawak Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazlan Abang Hipni, and Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Office (Labour, Immigration, and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Jala were present at the event.
Also present were JX Nippon Oil & Gas Corporation president Toshiya Nakahara; executive vice president Tetsuo Yamada, senior vice president Shinji Oka, and JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited executive officer and managing director Katsunori Ozawa. — DayakDaily
