PETRONAS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc. (ExxonMobil) to jointly explore opportunities in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to help decarbonise Malaysia’s upstream industry and provide CO2 storage solutions for the region.

Under the terms of the MoU, both parties will assess the viability of potential CCS projects in selected locations offshore Peninsular Malaysia and identify suitable technology within the scope of carbon capture, transport and storage for potential application.

The companies will also share subsurface technical data to enable CO2 storage assessment and characterisation. Relevant data related to pipelines, facilities and wells will also be shared to evaluate potential reutilisation of existing infrastructure for transport and storage in selected locations.

The MoU was signed and formalised on 3 November 2021. Signing on behalf of PETRONAS was its Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Upstream, Adif Zulkifli, while ExxonMobil was represented by its President and Chairman, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., Shane Harris.

The MoU supports PETRONAS’ continuous efforts to efficiently produce and optimise its oil and gas assets to generate the resources to fund growth, facilitate progress and allow the Company to decarbonise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is also one of the many efforts to position and establish Malaysia as a leading CCS solutions hub in the region.

PETRONAS is taking deliberate steps to build a resilient and sustainable portfolio to support the transition towards low-to-zero carbon energy sources. These include developing, testing, and piloting a suite of technologies at its first offshore CCS project set for CO2 injection in 2025. The Company is also pursuing more zero continuous flaring and venting of hydrocarbons to reduce emissions while continuing to reshape its portfolio mix for cleaner sources of energy.

Adif Zulkifli, PETRONAS Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Upstream said: “This collaboration is an important step to unlock the opportunities and potential of CCS in Malaysia through applied technologies and innovation, potentially helping us reach our net zero carbon emissions by 2050 aspiration amidst an evolving energy landscape. PETRONAS and ExxonMobil share a long-standing relationship that has seen multiple successful collaborations and business ventures between the two parties in Malaysia and abroad. We are proud of our partnership with ExxonMobil and look forward to achieving a shared ambition of delivering energy security and clean energy solutions.”

Joe Blommaert, the President of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions said: “ExxonMobil continues to explore opportunities in Southeast Asia for large-scale carbon capture and storage projects that have the potential to make the greatest impact in the highest-emitting sectors. With joint collaboration and well-designed policies, we can use our capabilities to develop projects that progress reliable, safe and ready-to-deploy technologies at scale that could significantly reduce emissions throughout Malaysia.”

About Petronas

Established in 1974, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) is a global energy and solutions company, ranked amongst the largest corporations on Fortune Global 500®️. As an integrated global LNG producer with over 37 years of experience, PETRONAS provides an uninterrupted supply of LNG to more than 25 countries around the world. PETRONAS has safely delivered more than 11,000 cargoes globally, sourced from its portfolio of facilities located in Malaysia, Australia and Egypt. PETRONAS is also the first global energy player to introduce the floating LNG concept in 2016, the PFLNG SATU, and introduced its deep-water FLNG, the PFLNG DUA, in 2021.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded international energy companies, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is one of the largest refiners and marketers of petroleum products, and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world.