Anwar praises Petronas for securing one of world’s largest gas fields

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has described Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) success in securing one of the world’s largest gas fields as an extraordinary achievement that positions the national oil and gas company among industry leaders.

This followed an agreement signed with the Turkmenistan government, Bernama reported.

Anwar said the success also alleviates concerns over domestic gas supply shortages while enhancing the company’s ability to continue exporting gas to countries such as Japan, South Korea, China and several others.

Anwar said his official visit to Turkmenistan, made at the invitation of its president, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was a reciprocal visit following the president’s trip to Malaysia in December 2024.

He said Petronas informed him in 2024 to urge Serdar to recognise Petronas’s role as a key pillar in the expansion of Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry.

Anwar said Serdar provided strong assurances at that time and this was followed by a series of negotiations.

Anwar said Petronas’s track record and performance as a highly respected operator and manager of oil companies attracted the president’s attention.

Petronas also offered various proposals to the host country that piqued their interest. They included technology transfer opportunities, training exposure, including at Universiti Petronas, and the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme in collaboration with the foreign affairs ministry, he added.

“This led him to accept Petronas’s proposals more readily.

“It is an extraordinary achievement that places Petronas among the owners of the world’s largest gas fields here in Turkmenistan,” he said before concluding his two-day official visit to the country.

Anwar said Turkmenistan’s confidence in Petronas would guarantee exceptional revenue generation for the company. The close relationship between the two countries also opens the door for greater cooperation across various industries and sectors.

“Malaysia will also focus on expanding cooperation beyond the oil and natural gas sector into other areas, including science, technology, research, semiconductor education, artificial intelligence and other emerging fields,” he said.

Earlier, he attended the Turkmenistan-Malaysia Forum commemorating the 30th anniversary of bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

Anwar was accompanied by investment, trade and industry minister Johari Ghani, economy minister Akmal Nasir and senior officials.

This was Anwar’s first official visit to Turkmenistan and the fifth such visit by a Malaysian prime minister.