MUSCAT: There is a great prospect for cooperation between Sarawak and Oman given the “bright future” in the global petrochemical sector.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg said this after paying a courtesy call to Oman Oil and Gas Minister Dr Mohammed Hamad Al Rumhi at his office here today.
The chief minister and members of his delegation arrived at the Omani capital yesterday as part of the state’s efforts to explore possibilities of cooperation to develop the downstream sector of oil and gas industries in the state.
“Oman and Sarawak have some similarities demographically and as oil producing states that would augur well for enhancing bilateral ties between the two economies,” said the chief minister in his address.
The courtesy call was part of the five-day working visit by delegates from the state government to Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Members of the chief minister’s delegation included Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, state secretary Tan Sri Mohammad Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Petros chairman Tan Sri Hamid Bugo.
The delegates also consist of deputy state secretary Datuk Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Energy Bhd chief executive officer Sharbini Suhaili, who is also a board member of Petros, and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) general manager, Rodziah Morshidi.
Also present during the visit was the Malaysian Ambassador to Oman, Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany.
The chief minister later witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoU) to pave the way for collaborations in the oil and gas industries in Sarawak.
The first MoU was signed between PetroTel Energy Oman LLC (PTO) for exploration and production rights in Oman and South Sea Energy (SSE) that is affiliated to Sarawak.
The second MoU was signed between Petros, Sarawak’s newly-formed oil and gas company SSE, and PetroTel.
Representing Petros during the ceremony were Hamid and the company’s board member Datuk Zuraimi Sabki, while SSE was represented by its president Lily Chin and executive director Tiong Kiong King.
PTO was represented by its chairman and chief executive officer Dr Anil Chopra and the group chief operating officer Mike Lucich.