Malaysia: Oil tanker ‘MT Wan Da’ sinks off the coast of Johor; oil spill reported

May 16, 2020

Dateline 2020-04-16, Manifold Times:

The Johor-Bahru division of Malaysia Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) on Wednesday (15 April) reported the sinking of oil tanker MT Wan Da near Tanjung Penyusop in its initial investigations.

According to MRSC, the head office in Johor Bahru was first made aware of the incident from the Head of Tanjung Pengelih Maritime Zone who received a request from a shipping and forwarding company to carry out salvaging works on the vessel.

Rescue vessel Petir 11 of Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone was on patrol at about 2.20 pm when it discovered an overturned vessel about 2.7 nautical miles off Tanjung Penyusop.


Malaysia’s Petronas warns of project delays, aims to keep local capex

May 15, 2020

Dateline 2020-04-14, Yahoo:

Malaysian state energy giant Petronas said the risks of delays to some of its projects were rising due to prolonged coronavirus-related lockdowns around the world.

Petronas, which operates in more than 20 countries including Brazil and the United States, said in an email that it would try to maintain its domestic spending for this year.

The company forecast 2020 domestic capital expenditure of 26 billion ringgit ($6 billion) to 28 billion ringgit, higher than last year.

“The ongoing global spread of the COVID-19 outbreak and collapse in oil prices continue to impact financial markets as well as many economies and industries around the world,” Petronas said in an emailed statement on Monday.


Malaysian senator builds solar-powered buggy while under home quarantine for COVID-19

May 14, 2020

Dateline 2020-04-13, Channel News Asia:

Stuck in a 14-day home quarantine, rural empowerment activist Adrian Banie Lasimbang decided to take advantage of the enforced isolation and come up with a working prototype of a solar-powered, electric buggy in the past two weeks.

The 43-year-old, who is also a senator from Sabah in the Dewan Negara (the Malaysian Parliament’s upper house), told CNA he was quarantined from Mar 23 till Apr 5 after coming into contact with a friend who later tested positive for COVID-19.


After Sarawak, Sabah starts imposing petroleum sales tax

May 13, 2020

Dateline  2020-04-07, Malay Mail:

Sabah has implemented a 5 per cent sales tax on petroleum products sold in its territory, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He said he informed petroleum companies of the state’s decision to collect the tax last month and it should come into effect immediately.

“We’ve done it already, last month,” he said when asked what was Sabah’s plan to impose the tax.

This comes after the High Court ruled last month that Sabah and Sarawak have the right under the Federal Constitution to impose a sales tax on petroleum products.


Petronas contractor off Malaysia confirmed with Covid-19

May 12, 2020

Dateline 2020-04-06, Upstream:

A worker off Malaysia has tested positive for Covid-19, the second such confirmed case in Southeast Asia’s second-largest oil producer.

“Petronas, through its subsidiary, Petronas Carigali, confirms that one of its contractors at an offshore platform in Miri, Sarawak has tested positive for Covid-19. The contractor is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital,” Petronas told Upstream on Monday.

A contractor source claimed that the worker in question was a rig crew member on Velesto Drilling’s jack-up Naga 6.

As a result of his diagnosis, work has been temporarily stopped at Petronas Carigali’s Tukau Timur (East Tukau) and Baronia fields’ infill drilling programmes.

“As a precautionary measure to manage the risk of exposure, we have temporarily locked down the rig and suspended all crew change. All identified close contacts have immediately been placed under quarantine for 14 days,” said Petronas.


Oil, gas plant explodes, leaves 5 killed in S. Malaysia

May 11, 2020

Catchier title.

Dateline 2020-03016, Menafn:

Based on local media reports, the Pengerang Integrated Complex near Kota Tinggi in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor reported five of its personnel killed as fire flared up in the complex on Sunday.

Few hours before Sunday midnight, the state operations center had received an emergency call reporting the blast, Johor state Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Pauzan Ahmad declared.

Bernama state news agency cited Ahmad as saying “Upon arriving at the location, the team found that an explosion and fire occurred at the plant diesel hydrotreater unit which uses hydrogen to remove sulphur waste from raw diesel.”


Dip in fuel prices, MCO may see petrol stations close, says group

May 10, 2020

Out of curiosity, did any stations shutdown the last time PDAM made a statement?

Dateline 2020-03-26, FMT:

 The country’s main association for petrol dealers says it fears the bulk of some 3,800 stations nationwide will have to suspend operations due to financial issues related to the “double whammy” of consecutive drops in fuel prices and the loss of traffic due to the government’s movement control order (MCO).

Petrol Dealers Association Malaysia president Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz told FMT the sale of fuel products is down by 70%.

On average, he said, a station needs a working capital of RM150,000 to RM200,00 a month to buy fuel.

Operating costs, including utilities and staff wages, are around RM30,000 to RM70,000 depending on the size of the station.


Petronas mulling appeal on right to sales tax

May 9, 2020

Lawyer are essential services.

Dateline 2020-03-18, FMT:

Petronas is still considering whether to appeal against last week’s High Court ruling that Sabah and Sarawak have the right under the Federal Constitution to impose sales tax on petroleum products.

“We have 30 days from March 13 to file a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal,” said lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar who represents the national oil and gas company.

Last week, judge Azahari Kamal Ramli, who is based in Kuching, dismissed Petronas’ judicial review application to declare the Sarawak state sales tax null and void.

Petronas had claimed that some parts of the state’s Sales Tax Ordinance 1998, which require the national oil company to pay the 5% sales tax on petroleum products to Sarawak, were unconstitutional.


B20 is the better fuel

May 8, 2020

Yeah, B20 is good.

Dateline 2020-03-18, NST:

MALAYSIA launched its B20 (20 per cent palm methyl ester and 80 per cent petroleum diesel) programme for the transport sector recently.

For someone who has been in the palm oil industry for more than 30 years, I see this as a strategic move that could strengthen the industry. At the same time, it will contribute to the country’s effort to achieve its sustainable development goals, which call for the protection of the planet and people.

This is because scientific studies have proved that the use of biodiesel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For Malaysia, it will bring down the emissions by 3.8 tonnes a year.


Five Petroleum debuts in Malaysia

May 7, 2020

One for the history books.

Dateline 2020-03-17, Petrol Plaza:

Five Petroleum Malaysia has launched its brand in Malaysia with the opening of its first fuel station in Kalumpang, Selangor. The official opening also marks the debut of its Ultimaxx range of fuels and integrated Woo! Mart convenience store, according to a press release.

Operated by Pahang-based Seng Group, a company with nearly five decades operating in the fuel business, the new brand marks Seng Group’s first independent foray into the fuel retail segment. Seng Group already represents the petrol stations brand BHPetrol.

Five Petroleum will be managed by the same team from Seng Group, while its Ultimaxx fuels will be sourced from Petronas.