Oil & Gas Hub in … Pekan?

February 18, 2009

I was watching TV3 news today (2009-02-16), and there was mention of a new oil & gas hub in Pekan, Pahang. Here’s a link to the New Straits Times. It is called the Tanjong Agas Oil & Gas and Maritime Industrial Park. Investment to create the site was valued at RM2b, with a total investment of RM12b (not sure about this number).

I got confused because Tanjong Agas is also a well known place in Muar, Johor.

Second, Pekan is not what you call the center of the O&G universe. It’s closer to the southern Malaysian oil fields, and can potentially service the Indonesian offshore assets as well.

I wonder if politics had a lot of say in developing a state relatively friendly to the current administration.

If you can point me to who can give me jobs there, thank you.

12 Comments | business opportunity, Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Wata

From the NST: Unlikely Petrol Price Change

February 17, 2009

To increase my readership, I’ve decided to take some words from the New Straits Times, dateline 2008-02-14:

Petrol and diesel prices are not likely to change as there is no significant change in world crude oil prices.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said the ex-refinery prices of fuel remain high although the price of crude oil had gone down.

“As such, if we use the crude oil price as the indicator to lower fuel prices, this mean we would be giving out more subsidy,” Shahrir said at the Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Carnival organised by the Johor NGV Users Association here today. “We have already subsidised 30 sen a litre. If we are to lower fuel prices again, we will have to spend more for subsidy. Previously, there was no problem to base the pump prices of fuel on crude oil price. This is because the crude oil price is moving in tandem with the ex-refinery prices. Now, it is no longer the case.”

You can subscribe to an online version of the paper at the Bluehyppo site, follow links to e-browse.

BTW, what do you do at the NGV Carnival? Rides on NGV fairground attractions? Win a NGV conversion unit during the raffles? Eat NGV themed delicacies? Or does it look like any other (add generic name here) carnival?

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Posted by Wata

Saturday Star 2009-02-15 – Job Opportunities

February 16, 2009

First off, indications are that the Malaysian oil & gas industry is being hit hard by the recession. So, if there are adverts in the papers, expect that only the brightest (and cheapest) will be offered jobs.

Another week, another scan of the Saturday Star newspaper. Here’s a list of job ads in the paper:

  • Synergy Oil and Gas Engineering is recruiting fresh chemical engineering graduates, or those with around 1 year experience. CVs may be sent to enquiry@synergykl.com.my.
  • Delcom (public holding company Deleum) is looking for a project and field services engineers. CVs may be sent here, or you can send a hardcopy CV the Human Resources Department, Deleum Berhad, no. 2, Jalan Bangsar Utama 9, Bangsar Utama, 59000 KL.
  • Off topic, but interesting: First Solar is recruiting for a Principal Engineer, Root Cause Engineer, Env Eng, Eng H&S Eng, Manufacturing Engineer. Go to their website. Let me know how interesting the job is.
  • SapuraCrest Petroleum is looking for a whole mess of people. Visit their website for more details.
  • MMHE ATB is looking for engineers, head of manufacturing and design. Apply online.

Sigh, since I have moved with Synergy out of KL, will you patronise Chee Meng in my memory? Or invite me to meetings around Bukit Bintang at lunchtime?

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Posted by Wata

MOGSC – Set Them (loans) Free!

February 15, 2009

Nice to see that a trade association is working to make funds available to the O&G industry. We hope that the spill off gives the little player incentive to continue contributing to the national coffers. Dateline Feb 13, 2009 from The Star:

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council (MOGSC) is urging financial institutions to free up credit to oil and gas (O&G) support services players to ensure that O&G activities do not diminish in the current economic downturn.

President Sofiyan Yahya said if there was a contraction in credit, O&G support services players would have difficulty in executing their projects, thus affecting business and industry growth.

“Execution will be a concern if there is a lack of financing as we have projects in hand and investment outlay has been planned for the next couple of years.”

You can subscribe to an online version of the paper at the Bluehyppo site, follow links to e-browse.

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Posted by Wata

Interviews – Potential Question.

February 13, 2009

We are currently going through a rash of interviews now, getting more people to hitch their wagon to the Synergy star, and come along for the ride.

We need to determine the quality of the applicants who want to work in our intense work environment, ambiance provided by Jabba. I really want to ask the question (to a chemical engineer):

So, how do you transform a 60Hz AC supply to a 50Hz AC supply?

I’m a chemical engineer by birth, but even I know the answer. What I DON’T want to hear is:

Well, the difference between the two is negative 10Hz, right? So, if you spin the user 10Hz in the negative direction, you get 50Hz lah.

If I get that type of answer, I’ll spin the applicant negative 10 Hz.

C’mon elect engineers, give me the answer in the comments. I’ll take even weirder answers.

30 Comments | engineering, oil and gas | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Wata

Malaysian Insider – Malaysia’s Bunkering Ambition

February 12, 2009

Quoting from the Malaysian Insider,

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 – A worsening ownership battle for a planned Malaysian bunkering facility to rival Singapore’s is threatening to derail the project and could hurt one of the country’s largest commercial banks.

The project to build a bunkering depot on a reclaimed island in Johor is being led by a little-known private company called KIC Oil and Gas, which has so far drawn down nearly half of its RM1.4 billion (S$584 million) financing facility from state-controlled CIMB to fund construction work.

But KIC’s failure to resolve problems with another key shareholder of the project, Seaport Terminal, which owns two of Johor’s main ports including Tanjung Pelepas, has prompted CIMB to consider suspending further funding for the construction of the bunkering facility, government officials and financial executives said.

I’ve had some dealings with KIC in the past, and I have actually been on their bunkering ship in the past. Interesting place, you can actually get 3 countries’ cellphone networks onboard (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore). And I used to have a few friends in the place, who have now spread out.

Another KIC article here.

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Posted by Wata

From the Star – Cheaper Electricity from March

February 11, 2009

Consumers, rejoice. Environment, increase your worries. Dateline 2009-02-08:

TAMPIN: Electricity tariffs for households and industries will be reduced from March 1. It is learnt that the reduction could be between 5% and 10%.

“We are working with the Economic Planning Unit on this and I will brief the Cabinet on Wednesday,” Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said yesterday.

However, he refused to divulge the quantum of reduction.

Shaziman said that apart from lowering power rates, the Government would also give rebates to industries which consumed a lot of electricity.

Citing an example, he said the steel and semi-conductor industries could benefit as power made up the bulk of their operational costs.

The Star Electric Tariff

The Star Electric Tariff

I’m all for reducing the burden on consumers (read: me) during these trying times. However, isn’t there a way to do it whilst still promoting good energy management? How about using Japan’s model? They give tax break for use of energy efficient processes.

Maybe give us a rebate if we buy more energy efficient equipment and consumer electrics. If we don’t claim the rebate, the money goes to TNB.

You can subscribe to an online version of the paper at the Bluehyppo site, follow links to e-browse.

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Reminder – RON 92

February 10, 2009

In anticipation of RON 95 being sold at the same price as RON 92, during my travels I did discover that RON 92 is being sold in the less metropolitan parts of the country at RM1.70/liter.

PETRONAS - ROn 92

PETRONAS - ROn 92

Here are a few synths of the resort (here, here and here) I stayed which was near the RON 92 station. Visit Photosynth for more fun.

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Posted by Wata

Saturday Star 2009-02-07 – Job Opportunities

February 9, 2009

Another week, another scan of the Saturday Star newspaper. Here’s a list of job ads in the paper:

  • Shell are looking for ideas people. They want engineers of a disciplines, with a B.Sc or Master’s in the related field. If you want to apply, send a buzz to here. Send your submissions in before March 1, 2009.
  • There’s a company looking for electrical engineers. You can apply here, or fax resume to +603-56315378. The number seems to indicate the office isn’t far from Synergy’s. Website’s under construction. Responses in before February 15, 2009.
  • RasGas is looking for well operations coordinator, flow assurance coordinator (maybe Synergy should look into that), technicians, operators. CVs to be submitted here. You can phone the local recruiters at +603 2078 1918. I believe RasGas is a JV, one of the partners being ExxonMobil.
  • Talisman is looking for an Operations Star-Up engineer. This must be for Bunga Orkid -A.
  • There’s an advert by the Oval group for senior sales engineer, and sales & application engineers. Send your applications here. I believe I’ve looked at their products in the past. I tried to ping the site, no answer, so I’ll give you the snail mail contacts: Ms. Carol, Oval Engineering Sdn Bhd, 13-1 Block E2, Jalan PJU 1/42A, Dataran Prima, Taman Mayang Mas, 47301 PJ, 03-7803 9858 (P), 03-78037957.

5 Comments | Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
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The SOGE Story – A Finishered Office (I know)

February 6, 2009

Been kinda busy lately, with me being home alone at the office. Why just this morning I went out to see a mate at Trisystems who offer “offers customers complete instrumentation and control solutions”. Gotta do that marketing, oil & gas is like any other business, if people can’t find you, don’t cry that you don’t get any jobs.

Anyhow, here’s a link to the continuing saga of Synergy Oil & Gas Engineering Sdn. Bhd. Another Photosynth view of the office. Thank the other director that his world map allowed ‘synth to transverse that otherwise blank wall.

You see those empty seats? They won’t be empty for long…

1 Comment | engineering, Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: | Permalink
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