KUCHING: Sarawak Petroleum Contractors Association (Speca) wants Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) to involve local contractors in the state’s oil and gas (O&G) industry.
Speca president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo said Petros should look into the participation of local contractors according to their area of expertise.
“We recognise that there are about 500 Sarawak O&G contractors registered with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and maybe the same with Petros, and about 200 are active currently. Speca itself has about 70 members today,” he said.
Rahman added that Speca Consortium Sdn Bhd was looking at the provision of onshore drilling rigs and the associated services and supply.
“Speca has built its capabilities by combining members’ capabilities technically and financially and also partnering with foreign companies with the right expertise and assets.”
Rahman was commenting on Petros awarding the contract for the operation of block SK433 to Petra Energy Development Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Petra Energy) and its joint venture partner Uzma Engineering Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Uzma Berhad).
In a statement last Friday (June 18), the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) endorsed the conditional award by Petros for this block, which covers the Miri-Marudi area.
Rahman congratulated the companies’ joint venture for securing this competitive bidding, noting that both companies were no stranger to the E&P business.
“We believe the Petra/Uzma joint venture should be able to bring positive results based on their track record and experiences. Petros has made the right decision to award SK433 to them,” he said.
He pointed out that with the current uptrend of O&G prices, these endeavours should bring good revenue to the state government in terms of State Sales Tax (SST) on petroleum products.
“We also hope for Petros to look into the offshore part of Sarawak O&G resources if legally permitted,” he said.
He congratulated the Petros team headed by its chief executive officer Datuk Sauu Kakok, as well as the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under the leadership of the far-sighted Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“Generally a good start for the Sarawak government in its planning to take control and manage its O&G resources,” he commented.
