Balance key to mutual benefit

Rights aside, S’wak to work closely with established players to better manage oil and gas resources

MIRI: The Sarawak government, through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad ( Petros), will work closely with established oil and gas players such as Petronas and Shell to ensure that the state’s resources are managed effectively to benefit the people and the economy.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg stressed that although Sarawak has the right over its natural resources, it may not necessarily have the experience to manage it independently.

“We are still dependent on established oil and gas establishments. It is important to note that even though we have the resources, it is nothing if we cannot manage it properly.

“Therefore, there must be a balance in our approach and in order to get the benefit, we must work and share the benefit with established players,” he said in his opening address at the Sarawak Oil and Gas Seminar and Exhibition ( SOGSE), here yesterday.

Pointing out the importance of sharing data in the industry, Abang Johari said doing so would

Therefore, there must be a balance in our approach and in order to get the benefit, we must work and share the benefit with established players. Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister

do more good as it would be a winwin situation for all players.

“Back in 1988, I was told that Sarawak’s oil and gas reserves would last only two more decades before it dried up. But it is now 2019, and I am still here. Up until today, I am sceptical of (the actual amount of) our oil reserves.

“The drilling activity is still going on. It proves that the seismic data I was told back then might not be correct, or possibly because they (industry players) were not willing to share with us.”

The chief minister added that Petros, formed within the framework of Sarawak’s legal position, is playing a huge role in upstream and downstream activities.