style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kota Kinabalu: Petroliam Nasional (Petronas) has given out over 70 job scopes from projects it has in Sabah exclusively to local contractors. Its Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said this was to ensure the capacity and competitiveness of local companies here could be improved and in future would be able to venture into the broader market.

"The step will assist in the development of local contractors, not only in the field of oil and gas, but also in areas related to the specific job scopes," he told a Business Opportunity Seminar on the Sabah Oil and Gas Industry, here.

However, Mohd Sidek said Petronas as the trustee of national oil and gas resources, is focused on building the capacity of local vendors, human resources and carrying out corporate social responsibility in Sabah.

For instance, 75 per cent of Petronas' manpower in Sabah now comprise locals who have reached the competency and ability levels needed due for the development of the State's oil and gas sector.

Besides, the seminar and licensing workshop event is also aimed at boosting the number of registered Sabah contractors with Petronas.

He said they can learn more about the requirements and steps to bid for contracts from the oil firm and also partake in the open industry through contracts offered from Petronas' Production Sharing Contractors (PSC), like Shell, Murphy Oil, Conoco Philips and JX Nippon Oil that are operating in Sabah.

"It is Petronas' hope that vendors here can polish their abilities through the offering of contracts and further venture and carve a name in the global oil and gas industry," he said.

Mohd Sidek said continuous investments of Petronas in Sabah through the developments of the Kimanis Power Plant, Sabah Ammonia Urea project, Sabah, Sarawak Gas Pipeline and the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal have brought about various economic spillovers through local investments, job opportunities, human resource development and the competitive edge.

As such, the oil firm would also be able to carry out various corporate social programmes in the field of community well-being, environment and education, he said.

Mohd Sidek noted they are also involved in generating 300MW to the local power grid through the Kimanis Power Plant Project in collaboration with Sabah Foundation, and thus increase the reliability and security of power generation in the State.

On another note, Petronas has appointed two Sabah bumiputera companies under its Vendor Development Programme.

The companies are Firm Synergy Sdn Bhd from Sabah and Winner Inspection Sdn Bhd from the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Firm Synergy is expected to provide condition-based monitoring services to Petronas and Production Sharing Companies in Sabah and Labuan under the programme.

Winner Inspection is expected to provide non-destructive services to the oil firm as well as the other PSC companies.

This will bring the total to 88 companies throughout the country being appointed under the programme, collectively worth more than RM7.5 billion.

Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd Sabah Operations also inked a deal with Sazma Aviation to provide helicopter and aviation services and also with S.P. Satria Logistics Sdn Bhd to provide supply base services.

On these developments, Mohd Sidek hoped the vendors would do their best in providing their services and at the same time boost their competitiveness.

"These vendors can also be the mentors and support and guide the other local vendors to follow their footsteps," he said.

Petronas also named 10 companies as recipients of the Petronas Outstanding Vendor Ward.

Six of them are contractors to Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd in Sabah and the rest are contractors of Petronas Chemicals Methanol Sdn Bhd in Labuan.

For Petronas Carigali, the recipients are Airborne Travel Sdn Bhd, Barisan Samudera Sdn Bhd, SK Meriang, Pemborong Maju Bersatu Sdn Bhd (Labuan), Emas Dinamik Sdn Bhd and Asian Supply Base Sdn Bhd.

For Petronas Chemicals Methanol Sdn Bhd, the recipients are EOS Marin and Oil Field Supply Sdn Bhd, Bentamakmur Sdn Bhd, Jesselton Sdn Bhd and Hyperwage System Engineering.