Marketing Rounds – Clear Instructions

July 29, 2015

I await the day when someone confuses this with AirAsia’s requirements,and complains.

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Shout Out – Talk on Microfluidic Technology: Theory and How It Can Transform Industrial Practice

July 28, 2015

This is a shout out for the IEM. My Technical Division will be  hosting a talk on the 12th August, 2015, by Dr Jitkai Chin. It’ll be at 5:30 pm  (makan-makan at 5:00).

Since microfluidic technology was introduced nearly two decades ago, it has attracted attention from researchers around the world because of its unique features of miniaturisation – reduced raw material consumption and waste generated, large surface area to volume ratio and etc. In recent years, the technology has been introduced and adapted by pharmaceutical and food industries to improve product quality and energy efficiency. In this talk, the important theories of microfluidic technology will be introduced with examples of application. The talk is suitable for chemical engineers, mechanical engineers as well as electrical and electronic engineers.

This talk intends to raise awareness of participants on the increasing importance of CFD in the oil and gas industry. This is achieved by sharing real life examples of CFD applications in Malaysia and how it helped companies in understanding process and equipment issues and assisted them in making sound engineering decisions.

 

Dr Jitkai Chin obtained his BEng (Hons) in Chemical and Process Engineering with Biotechnology and PhD from Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of the Sheffield, UK in 2001 and 2007 respectively. He was appointed Assistant Professor in University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus in 2007. He was then promoted to Associate Professor in 2011 with 15 ranking international journal papers and awards behind him. His research interests including the droplet microfluidics, microthrusters, propellants and graphene.

 

Register here or download the form here. A map to Wisma IEM is presented here.


IEM Shout Out – One-Day Workshop on Rock Blasting and Explosive Engineering

July 28, 2015

This is a shout out for the IEM. My Technical Division will hosting the above seminar on Wednesday the 11th Aug, 2015 by Mr. Mohamad Razif Kemat, Mr. Yap Hong Hor, and Ir. Look Keman Sahari.

This Workshop will be a series of Courses on the Application of Explosives in mining, quarrying and Construction industries tailored to the engineers and other professionals such as Safety personnel who need to know how explosives are used safely and efficiently in rock blasting operation, mining, quarrying, and construction industries.

The Workshop will introduce the various types of explosives used in the commercial application and suitability of particular explosives for a particular application. The right choice of an initiation system, for example, will determine the degree of disturbance to the public and the potential complaints from them which may cause delays in a blasting project. This may also help the project manager to understand the proposal made by the consulting engineer or blasting engineer for a particular blasting project instead of just depend on blasting contractor’s proposal which purely focus on the cheapest costs.
The Workshop is also a good introduction to those who wish to learn about the productive use of explosives in our life. It includes lectures and demonstration of explosive products (dummy samples) used in our industries.As a result of fast pace development housing, business centres, factories etc are being built near existing structures. Development within city areas for examples requires firm foundation below the surface where underground space are also used as car parks, LRT stations, bus station etc. Excavation of underground space requires the removal of soil and also rocks. In both Selangor and Penang Island the need for building new houses for expanding population requires the cutting and levelling of hilly areas. All these require the use of explosives.

 

You can register here. Flyers may be obtained here.


Saturday Star 2015-07-25– Job Opportunities

July 27, 2015

Eid Mubarak. May Allah accept my efforts, and yours. Donate to your favourite charity, buy my recommendations, or through my Amazon store. Or get the Young Turks series (all 4 books). Where are those corporate sponsors? Or throw donations at me.

  • I’m looking for jobs for 4Q2015. Send me y0ur POs.
  • An associate of mine is looking for a technical safety part-time adviser. 2 Associates, actually. Needs to be needle sharp with respect to QRAs, and HSE safety cases. A calm demeanor to handle nonsensical questions from young engineers helps as well. Either that, or a drinking problem.
  • Another associate is looking for a project engineer, 5 years plus relevant experience is good.
  • Nothing much in the news.

Support your local bookshop!  Bookalicious at The Summit Subang is a good choice. I think they focus on trilogies, quadrilogies, and other ologies. Tell them I sent you, and enjoy the look of perplexity on their faces. Those of you who have dropped my name, thanks!

Food choice of the week? Go visit the mee bandung / asam pedas stall in front of the Petaling Jaya Police Station (don’t ask).

Seen the Episode VII new trailer? Ff you say “What is episode Vii?”, I disown you.

Join the Star Wars Fever:

Star Wars Trilogy Episodes IV-VI (Blu-ray + DVD), Star Wars Trilogy Episodes I-III (Blu-ray + DVD), Heir to the Jedi: Star Wars


Atomic power a needed option as coal burns up with demand, says nuclear agency

July 26, 2015

Dateline 2015-06-10, The Malay Mail:

Malaysia needs atomic energy as spiralling global demand for coal could make the fossil fuel too costly in the long term, said the federal agency spearheading the bid for the country’s first nuclear power plant.

Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation (MNPC) chief executive officer Dr Mohd Zamzam Jaafar said at the current rate of global development, countries dependent on coal for power generation will have to pay dearly for the fuel both as price and energy demands increase.


Malaysia investing in O&G infrastructure for future demand

July 25, 2015

Dateline 2015-06-10, Seatrade Maritime:

In a welcome change, Malaysia’s oil and gas (O&G) industry players are taking advantage of the market downturn to prepare themselves better for the future.

Local media reported that Terengganu state government, through its unit Eastern Pacific Industrial Corp (EPIC), is planning a MYR2bn ($533.5m) expansion for the Kemaman Supply Base (KSB) in the state.

Construction work on the project at the over 30-year-old KSB is expected to begin in 2016 and be completed in 2019.

“We have been planning for an expansion for a long time as we need to prepare for growth. We want to make sure that Terengganu is serious and be exposed to as many opportunities as possible in the oil and gas sector,” Terengganu chief minister Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying.


Annuar: Give more to develop oil-producing states

July 24, 2015

Anyone have a handle on the 11MP? I would like the TL;DR version, please.

Dateline 2015-06-09, FMT:

The government must ensure that the country’s development is enjoyed equally by all the states, especially those which contribute more to national revenue.

Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh) said the government should admit that most of the country’s national revenue was derived from oil and gas from waters off Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan.

“As such, planning and strategy for these states don’t have to be like in our early years of independence.

“Sabah and Sarawak have great potential to contribute to national development,” he said when debating the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) in the Dewan Rakyat here, yesterday.

 


Industries to pay more for their gas supply

July 23, 2015

Now, how about them renewable energy sources?

Dateline 2015-06-09, The Star:

The Government has revised the natural gas tariff for Peninsular Malaysia’s commercial and industrial sectors, except for the power sector, effective July 1. The residential customers are not affected.

Gas Malaysia Bhd told Bursa Malaysia on Tuesday that the average gas tariff would be revised to RM21.80 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) from RM19.77/MMBtu previously.
“This is to take into account the increase in the purchase price of gas that Gas Malaysia procures from Petronas,” it said.
The selling prices for residential customers (Category A) remain at RM19.52 per MMBtu.

Labuan to gain from stacking rigs, vessels

July 23, 2015

Dateline 2015-06-08, Daily Express:

Though oil prices have inched up to about US$66 (RM235.62) per barrel, they are still 17.5pc below the US$80 per barrel deemed a reasonable level at which Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) may resume drilling contract awards, especially for marginal fields.

Until then, rigs off contracts and offshore support vessels (OSVs) are making their way to the stacking grounds.

There are 29 O&G companies listed on Bursa Malaysia and many more that are related to the industry. The depressed oil prices have shaved off on average 46pc from stock prices since June last year. The industry is now facing lower corporate earnings and possible loss of jobs due to Petronas’ move to cut capital expenditure and production.

Popular stacking grounds in the region include Johor waters, the Bay of Brunei in Labuan and Batam Island in Indonesia. Sources say the number of stacked rigs and vessels in these locations has more than doubled since the turn of the year, and is steadily rising.


Marketing Rounds – Toilet Door Latch

July 22, 2015

One of the more expensive door latches, incorporating the principle of reuse and recycle.

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