PETROS AND PETRA ANNOUNCES FIRST DRILL AT THE SK433 ONSHORE BLOCK, MIRI

Date: 11 October 2023

11 October 2023, Miri - Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) and PETRA Energy Berhad (PETRA) announce the commencement of its first onshore drilling at the SK433 block in Miri, marking a significant milestone of the inaugural Onshore Petroleum Contract that was awarded in July 2021 to PETROS under the Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance 1958. 

An event commemorating the historic milestone was held today at Miri’s Oil Well No. 1 at Canada Hill, officiated by The Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg. 

The Premier was accompanied by PETROS Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Hamid Bugo; PETRA Executive Director and Group CEO, Dato’ Anthony Firdauz Bujang; as well as management and staff. 

The initiation of drilling at SK433 is testament to the team's hard work, dedication, and expertise in bringing the project to life. The project employs about 75% of Sarawakians who are currently working at the drilling site and this is expected to increase as operations pick up. 

Block SK433 covers an area of approximately 3,100 km² located in the Northern Region of Sarawak area and includes the discovered Adong Kechil West field.  

PETROS was incorporated in 2017 to spearhead the State’s participation in the oil and gas sectors which are considered of strategic importance to the overall socio-economic development objectives of Sarawak, and Sarawakians.  

Armed with a purpose to ‘Harness (our) Resources for the Sustainable Progress of Sarawak’, PETROS has continued to play an active role in building its position and participating in both the Upstream and Downstream sectors of the Oil and Gas industry since its inception, in line with the state’s aspiration to create better job opportunities for local talents, while attracting and retaining Sarawakian talents and experts. 

PETRA is a Sarawak-owned company that began in Miri 35 years ago. This milestone drilling is an extremely meaningful milestone for the Company. The Project not only enhances energy production capabilities but also facilitates local employment and socio-economic growth. PETRA aims to align operations with its HSE and sustainability targets. 

PETROS Group CEO, Janin Girie, said when commenting on the event, “Today is a significant moment for Sarawak as we commemorate the first onshore drilling after a lull of over 30 years – this is a testament of PETROS’ commitment to rejuvenate exploration onshore Sarawak and drive early commercialisation of onshore oil and gas discoveries to spur socioeconomic growth of Sarawak.” 

PETRA Energy’s Executive Director and Group CEO Dato’ Anthony Bujang, in his remarks said, “As we embark on this journey together with our partner PETROS, we do so with a profound sense of responsibility, recognising the trust that has been placed in us by the people of Sarawak. We pledge to operate with the utmost integrity, adhere to the highest standards of safety and environmental protection and uphold the value of PETRACares. This is a pivotal moment not only for PETRA but also for the Miri community. Our operations at SK433 will revitalise the onshore exploration and production of oil and gas and we are motivated to unlock the potential of this field and contribute to energy security.” 

He added, “As we progress further, we remain committed to fostering a transparent relationship with all our stakeholders and the community of Miri. We appreciate the support and co-operation we have received thus far and are optimistic about the prospects that lie ahead.”

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