Petronas on an upward trajectory
The company is balancing its upstream ambitions with government debt obligations, while finalising a key domestic downstream project
The Malaysian government is once again turning to state-owned energy company Petronas to help fill its coffers, almost a year since the Perakan Herapan coalition returned veteran Mahathir Mohamad to the prime minister's office. This year the government is targeting a special dividend of MYR30bn ($7.5bn) to help settle excess tax refunds inherited from the previous administration, as well as a regular MYR24bn dividend. In total, proceeds from oil and gas activities are expected to comprise 30.9pc of government revenue in 2019, and 17.1pc of gross domestic product. The prospect of increasing its royalty payments to Sarawak and Sabah, the country's eastern states, also hangs over Petronas. Duri

Also in this section
25 July 2025
Mozambique’s insurgency continues, but the security situation near the LNG site has significantly improved, with TotalEnergies aiming to lift its force majeure within months
25 July 2025
There is a bifurcation in the global oil market as China’s stockpiling contrasts with reduced inventories elsewhere
24 July 2025
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
24 July 2025
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand