Malaysia's Petros launches bid round for three carbon capture sites

Malaysia's Petroleum Sarawak (Petros) launched the Sarawak Bid Round (SBR) 2024 on July 24, inviting bids for three carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) sites. The bid round aims to promote Malaysian state of Sarawak’s carbon storage capabilities and provide a platform for potential investors interested in conducting techno-commercial storage studies to develop the CCUS value chain.

“Through purposeful collaboration between Petros as the resource manager of CCUS and competent companies, Sarawak can achieve its vision to be the regional low-carbon solution provider of choice and establish Sarawak as the CCUS heartland for the Asia Pacific region," said Nazrin Banu Shaikh Sajjad Ahmad, Petros senior vice president for Sarawak Resource Management, said. 

The three carbon storage sites have an estimated total storage capacity of approximately 1,000mn tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e).

Petros said the first site offers a saline aquifer in the Southwest and Western Luconia province, which will be the center of energy growth and support the establishment of the Kuching Economic Hub. This site will enable the development of sour gas fields and the decarbonization of new industries in Kuching, as well as the reduction of existing local emissions.

The second site comprises several depleted fields nearing the end of their field life in the Balingian province. This site's proximity to shore aligns with the potential development of a new onshore gas plant.

The third site features saline aquifers and depleted fields in the Central Luconia province, including reservoirs and existing oil and gas infrastructure. The proximity to potential nearby sour gas field development offers integrated development opportunities.