MPRC collaborates with three local universities to establish Oil and Gas-focused R&D clusters

Key Highlights
  • MPRC today exchanges MoUs with three Malaysian research universities to develop sector-focused R&D clusters
  • UM, UTP and UTM also exchange MoUs with three leading OGSE firms MIT Technologies Sdn Bhd Satumarin Sdn Bhd and ProEight Sdn Bhd, respectively, marking the start of industry-academia collaboration on technology development projects

KUALA LUMPUR, November 5, 2015— Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC) today exchanged three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Petronas. This paves the way to the establishment of three research and development clusters to form industry-academia partnerships that will support the growth of Malaysian technologies and talents in the oil & gas services and equipment (OGSE) sector.

The three clusters, also known as Oil & Gas Innovation and Technology Clusters (OGITeC) will be advancing innovations and technology development in the following areas: Subsurface Technology (UM), Marine Systems (UTM), and Topside Process Engineering (UTP).

To mark the start of industry-academia partnerships, Vice Chancellors from the three technology clusters also exchanged MoUs with three leading OGSE firms in Malaysia to embark on technology development projects:

  • UM with MIT Technologies Sdn Bhd, designer and manufacturer of Intelligent Circulation While Drilling (iCWD) tools.

  • UTP with Satumarin Sdn Bhd, offshore marine services and logistics provider; and

  • UTM with ProEight Sdn Bhd, offshore engineering consulting firm and Malaysia leading mechanical seal manufacturer for O&G industry.

MPRC sees these partnerships as a vital step in ensuring Malaysian players are highly competitive to become strong regional players. This is crucial as Malaysia progresses to become a technological and innovation centre for the oil & gas industry in Asia-Pacific.

Datuk Shahrol Halmi, President and Chief Executive Officer of MPRC, said: “MPRC hopes to catalyse more active, win-win collaborations between academia and the industry, resulting in indigenous technologies and subject matter experts.”

“The exchange of MoUs today represents a concrete step in fostering closer cooperation between industry players MIT Technologies, ProEight Sdn Bhd, SatuMarin Sdn Bhd and the universities UM, UTM and UTP, respectively. To achieve our vision for Malaysia as a hub for OGSE activities and technological innovation, we need local companies to step up and develop local technologies,” he said.

These collaborations are underpinned by the OGSE technology development agenda in the 11th Malaysia Plan. These measures will significantly strengthen Malaysian companies and enhance manpower throughout the society. Ultimately, these development will help encourage growth in the broader economy and take Malaysia a step closer toward becoming an advanced nation by 2020.

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Group photo- From Left: Professor Datuk Ir Dr Wahid Omar, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; Professor Dato’ Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaya; YBhg. Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud, CEO of MATRADE; YBhg. Datuk Shahrol Halmi, CEO of MPRC; Datuk Ir Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS; Ahmed Tahoun, Managing Director of MIT Technologies; Ir Azhar Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer & Founder of ProEight Sdn Bhd; Captain Ahmad Imran Mohd Azmi, Managing Director of Satumarin Sdn Bhd.

Background

Malaysia has one of the most developed oil & gas industry in Southeast Asia. Following the discovery of oil in 1910 in Sarawak, the industry has grown by leaps and bounds to become the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas and the second-largest oil and natural gas producer in Southeast Asia. This journey, led by national oil company PETRONAS, has helped to create more than 3,000 OGSE companies in Malaysia. This also serves as an excellent base to position Malaysia as the hub for OGSE activities in the region.


Yet, a majority of these companies are agents of foreign technologies. To remain relevant, these companies need to move up the value chain by developing its own technology and improve technical competencies to support the Government’s vision for Malaysia to become a regional OGSE hub.


About MPRC

Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC), an agency under the Prime Minister’s Department was established in 2011. The agency is responsible for growing Malaysian OGSE firms and leveraging on Malaysia’s strategic geographical location to enhance its position as the preferred hub for OGSE activities in the region. As the OGSE development agency, MPRC helps to promote, catalyse and globalise the country’s OGSE capabilities in the upstream, midstream and downstream segments. To learn more about what we do, do visit www.mprc.gov.my.