Over RM300 billion invested in Sarawak, says Petronas subsidiary chief

Petronas subsidiary LNG Group of Companies vice-president and chief executive officer (CEO) Dzafri Sham Ahmad says between 2010 and 2015 alone Petronas and its subsidiaries have spent more than RM27 million to implement more than 100 CSR projects in Sarawak. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 22, 2015.Petrolian Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has a strong presence in Sarawak, with total cumulative investment of over RM300 billion in the upstream, midstream and downstream projects and activities, said LNG Group of Companies vice-president and chief executive officer (CEO) Dzafri Sham Ahmad.

He said for upstream, there were 60 oil and gas producing fields – 26 oil and 34 gas – producing an average of 850 kilo barrel oil equivalent per day (kboe/d).

"Additionally there are another 206 discovered fields which are yet to be monetised," he said at the Petronas Media Nite 2015 in Kuching last night.

He said for midstream there were three facilities – Petronas LNG Complex in Bintulu; Petronas Train 9 project; and, the floating LNG facility.

For downstream, he said, there were currently two operating units in the state -- Asean Bintulu Fertiliser plant which produced 0.6 million tonnes per annum (MPTA) of urea, making it Asia’s largest granular urea plant and 0.4 MTPA of ammonia.

"The other is the trading arm Petronas Dagangan which runs and manages five fuel terminals, four bunkering facilities, four aviation depots, two LPG bottling plants and 81 ground service stations," he said.

He said Petronas Dagangan also delivered fuel to the interior communities in Sarawak.

He said Petronas, as a truly responsible corporate citizen, had given back to society a lot more than any other oil and gas companies in Malaysia.

“In the past we prefer to be discreet when we give and perhaps because of that people thought we are not doing enough to give back to society especially in Sarawak.

“There is absolutely no truth in it as 2010-2015 alone Petronas and its subsidiaries have spent more than RM27 million to implement more than 100 CSR projects in Sarawak.

“These include the RM10 million we spent on the establishment of the Biodiversity, Environment and Conservation Project at Similajau National Park and the RM5 million contribution to transform Piasau Camp, Miri into Piasau Nature Reserve,” he said.

Besides that, he said, Petronas has also committed RM470 million in 2015 until 2019 as contribution to Sarawak in areas of corporate social responsibility, human resource development and education.

“This commitment is in addition to our existing corporate social responsibility contribution to the state,” he added.

At the function, Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd, the Petronas subsidiary also presented a RM1.5 million contribution to the soon-to-be completed Bintulu Hospital Burns Unit. 

“We support the project because we know it will greatly benefit the people in northern region of Sarawak and these socio-economic contributions are testaments to our commitment to ensure that Sarawak and its people will continue to benefit directly and indirectly from the oil and gas industry in the state,” he said. – Bernama