Adenan says not aware of PSC award by Petronas

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said he is in the dark with regard to the award of production sharing contract (PSC) for exploring Block SK410B in shallow waters off the coast of Sarawak.

“I don’t know about that,” he said during a press conference yesterday when asked to comment on the issue recently raised by Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.

Also with him at the conference was Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who was seen informing Adenan: “We are not in the picture.”

Repeating what Uggah told him, Adenan reiterated: “I don’t know. I don’t know. Sorry, I don’t know about it.”

Uggah then chipped in: “That is why one of the agreements is for the state government to discuss the PSC contracts.”

Petronas, the federal government and state government agreed on seven points during a meeting between them at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya on Friday.

One of the agreements says: “Petronas together with the federal government will consider the intention of the state government to participate in PSC contracts so that the State can benefit from the contracts.”

Upon being told that Thailand’s PTTEP and Kuwait’s Kufpec Malaysia would hold 42.5 per cent respectively and Petronas Carigali hold only 15 per cent of the PSC, Adenan responded: “I don’t know about this matter, so cannot make any comments.”

Last Sunday, Uggah told The Borneo Post that the second meeting with Petronas on Aug 20 did not touch on the issue.

He added that the meeting “was focused on Petronas manpower position in Sarawak only.”

Of late, See, who is also state PKR vice-chairman, asked the state government and Petronas to explain the SK410B PSC awarded to a joint venture between PTTEP, Kufpec and Petronas Carigali.

The parties concerned signed the PSC with Petronas for the exploration of Block SK410B located in shallow waters in offshore Sarawak on July 21, according to the Bangkok Post.