Petros inks three agreements with international partners to unlock onshore exploration potentials in Sarawak

KUCHING, Nov 11 2025: Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) today signed two strategic energy agreements and a storage study agreement with international industry players to unlock Sarawak’s onshore exploration potentials and to progress Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) projects in Central Luconia, Sarawak. 

(Left to right) For the document exchange of the Storage Study Agreement, representing Woodside Energy is CCS subsurface manager Robert Nesbit, CCS general manager Andrew Nicholls and Asia Pacific CCS strategy and business development manager Keith Adamson. Petros is represented by senior vice president for Sarawak resource management Datuk Abang Arabi Abang Narudin.

The agreements, witnessed by Petros chairman Tan Sri Hamid Bugo, were signed with Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), SC Tubular Solutions Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SCTSM), Superconducting Sensor Technology Corporation (SUSTEC) and Woodside Energy.

In his speech,  Hamid said the signing of the agreements marks another milestone for Petros in driving Sarawak’s energy future.

“Through these collaborations, we are strengthening partnerships and embracing innovation to unlock new opportunities in exploration and low-carbon development,”  he said.

“Together with our global partners, we are shaping a reliable, equitable and inclusive energy ecosystem that supports Sarawak’s long-term growth and prosperity,” he added.

Under the joint study agreement (JSA), Petros an JOGMEC  will collaborate on the onshore exploration project in the Mukah-Balingian region.

The partnership will enable both parties to gain deeper knowledge into Sarawak’s subsurface, supporting responsible and long-term onshore oil and gas development.

Importantly, this collaboration will develop local capabilities and empower Sarawak’s homegrown talent to take the lead in innovation and responsible exploration.

In parallel, Petros, together with SC Tubular Solutions Malaysia and SUSTEC will begin a Proof-of-Concept Study to detect oil and gas signals at the Adong Kechil West field near Miri.

For CCUS, Petros also signed a storage study agreement (SSA) with Woodside Energy, a global energy company with extensive experience in oil and gas, as well as experience in new energy products and low- carbon services.

This agreement, established under the Sarawak Bid Round 2024, covers Site 3A in Central Luconia, offshore Sarawak, and will see Woodside assess the technical and commercial feasibility of safely storing carbon offshore under ground.

This collaboration supports Petros’ vision to position Sarawak as a regional hub for CCUS and advance a low-carbon industrial transition.

Petros was represented by vice president for subsurface and development Jeremy Wong for the agreement with JOGMEC/SUSTEC, and senior vice president for Sarawak resource management Datuk Abang Arabi Abang Narudin for the agreement with Woodside Energy.

Representing JOGMEC was executive vice president of energy business unit Mori Hiroyuki; while SUSTEC was represented by president and co-chief executive officer Tsunehiro Hato; SC Tubular Solutions Malaysia Sdn Bhd by president Yosuke Yamashita; and Woodside by general manager, carbon capture and storage Andrew Nicholls.

Collectively, the three partnerships will strengthen Sarawak’s energy capabilities, accelerate innovation in exploration and low-carbon technologies, create new opportunities for local talent and businesses, and support the state’s vision to become a regional hub for efficient energy development.

 

(Left to right) For the document exchange of the Storage Study Agreement, representing Woodside Energy is CCS subsurface manager Robert Nesbit, CCS general manager Andrew Nicholls and Asia Pacific CCS strategy and business development manager Keith Adamson. Petros is represented by senior vice president for Sarawak resource management Datuk Abang Arabi Abang Narudin.

Don't blame Sarawak and Petros for the staff lay-offs at Petronas, GPS MPs clarify

KUCHING, Nov 11 2025: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Members of Parliament have rejected claims that the staff lay-off at Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) are linked to Sarawak and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros). 

Caption: Sri Aman MP Datuk Sri Doris Sophia Brodie reading a joint statement issued by GPS MPs 

They said  that the  lay-offs have nothing to do with Sarawak and Petros.

In a joint statement read by senior parliamentarian Datuk Sri Doris Sophia Brodie at the Parliament lobby today, the GPS MP backbenchers said any internal restructuring or workforce adjustments undertaken by Petronas are independent corporate decisions based on global and domestic market conditions.

“There is no direct or indirect connection between Petronas’ internal decisions and Sarawak’s rightful pursuit of regulatory and commercial roles in managing its own oil and gas resources through Petros,” they said.

They were clarifying what they described as misleading narratives being recently circulated on social media and certain online platforms concerning developments within the national energy sector and Sarawak’s role in it.

The backbenchers stressed that the partnership between Sarawak and Petronas remains strong, strategic, and forward-looking, adding that the staff lay-offs are purely part of Petronas’ strategic direction for right-sizing and have nothing to do with Sarawak’s constitutional rights or demands.

They noted that a recent commentary comparing DBS Bank’s market capitalisation with Petronas’ brand value has been misleadingly framed to assign blame to Sarawak.

“Market capitalisation fluctuations are driven by global financial dynamics and investor sentiment—not by state-level energy policies or Sarawak’s management of its resources.

“Petronas remains one of Southeast Asia’s most valuable and respected national oil

companies, with robust fundamentals, a diversified global portfolio, and an unwavering

commitment to Malaysia’s prosperity, despite recently losing its ranking as the region’s most

valuable brand to DBS Bank,” they said.

They pointed out that Sarawak’s efforts to strengthen Petros complement, not compete with, Petronas’ position in the region.

The MPs also stressed that Sarawak’s pursuit of greater control over its natural resources is grounded in fairness, constitutional rights, and a shared vision for Malaysia’s collective prosperity.

“Sarawak,Petros and Petronas will continue to collaborate constructively to ensure that Malaysia’s energy future remains strong, sustainable, and inclusive,” they said.

They urged the public to exercise discernment and verify information with credible sources before sharing unverified claims.

 

Rumah James Khalib longhouse in Tatau razed to the ground by late morning fire

BINTULU, Nov 10 2025: Some 104 occupants were made homeless when their 20-door Rumah James Khalib Semanok longhouse along Jalan Pan Borneo Tatau – Bintulu, was completely razed to the ground by a fire late this morning.

 

 Caption: The fire at its peak 

The victims included 17 senior citizens, 30 men, 34 women, nine boys, 11 girl and three toddlers.

According to Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Tatau station, there were no casualties reported.

The station said it received an emergency call from one of the residents about 11.41am on the fire that was engulfing the longhouse.

 It said the firefighters, on arrival, could not save the wooden longhouse from being razed to the ground.

The fire also destroyed five vehicles, two motorcycles and an all-terrain vehicle.

 

(UPDATED): Federal Cabinet to meet tomorrow whether to appeal on the entitlement to Sabah ruling

TAWAU, Nov 10 2025: The federal Cabinet will hold a special meeting tomorrow whether to appeal or not against the judgment of the Kota Kinabalu High on the 40 per cent entitlement to Sabah, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said. 

 Anwar Ibrahim: The federal government to hold discussions with the Sabah government after the election

He said that the federal government views the demand for the return of the 40 per cent to Sabah seriously.

"It will be presented for clarification and the Attorney General's views at the meeting tomorrow, before any decision is finalised.," he said at the opening a block of the Tawau General Hospital.

He said the federal government remains committed to the stance that every decision must be based on justice, transparency and the spirit of the federation for the benefit of the people of Sabah and the well-being of Malaysia as a whole.

He expressed  the federal government's wish to  hold discussions on the 40 per cent entitlement with the Sabah state government after the state election,

He said the discussions could not be held now because Sabah is under a caretaker government following the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly (SLA).

“Hopefully, we can have discussions after the new state government has been formed after the state election is over,” the prime minister said.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, also repeated his early statement that the federal government has allocated about RM17 billion to Sabah while collecting about RM10 billion from the state.

He also explained that the federal government’s allocation of RM600 million this year under the special grants is an interim payment because discussions are still on-going on a formula for a permanent payment.

Speaking to reporters later, the prime minister said the federal Cabinet will hear the views and opinions of the federal Attorney-General whether or not to appeal against the judgment of the kota Kinabalu High Court on the 40 per cent entitlement.

He said the country is based on the rule of law “so we need to hear the views and opinions of the AGC. Only then the Cabinet will make a decision.”

“In any case, the Cabinet will hold a meeting tomorrow to decide whether  or not to appeal against the High Court’s judgment,” he said.

Meanwhile,  in a statement posted on his facebook, he said for the first time since 1974, the present federal government is not delaying or waiting for the courts or political threats.

“In fact, we want to implement it because we have a clear political commitment to bring justice to Sabah,” he said.

He said the present government has channeled interim payments of RM300 million in 2023, RM400 million in 2024 and RM600 million in 2025.

“Sabah collects RM10 billion a year but we return more than RM17 billion. This is what we call the implementation of political determination.

“Therefore, for me, we must stop the culture of trading Sabah's rights for too long and question those who have been greedy and oblivious to Sabah's rights all this time,” he said.

On October 17, the court issued a mandamus order directing the federal government to conduct a revenue review with the Sabah government under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution to reinstate Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement for each financial year from 1974 to 2021.

The review must be conducted within 90 days, with both governments required to reach a mutual agreement within 180 days from the date of the order.