Petronas to expand Sudan operations

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, June 10, 2004 (New Straits Times) — Petroliam Nasional Berhad, the main stakeholder of KLCC Holdings Bhd and Putrajaya Corporation Bhd, plans to expand its operations to Sudan through the two subsidiaries.

Petronas chairman Tan Sri Azizan Zainul Abidin said the Sudanese Government had invited Malaysia to be involved in other sectors following Petronas’ contributions through Sudan’s oil industry.

“Since we began prospecting and developing oil in Sudan, it is now one of our major activities among 32 countries where we operate,” Azizan said. “We now want to help Sudan develop further.” As the oil industry in Sudan grows rapidly, Petronas, which also exported its engineering expertise, will expand its role and participate in infrastructure development.

Azizan, who is also president of Putrajaya Corporation, said Petronas would also look at expanding its construction activities to other countries.

He was speaking at a Press conference after meeting the Governor of Khartoum, Dr Abdel Haleem Ismail Al-Muta’afi, who is here at Azizan’s invitation.

Abdel Haleem said developing Muslim countries like Sudan looked at Malaysia as a yardstick.
“We want to learn from Malaysia’s physical and human resources development,” he said.