Malaysian state owned oil company PETRONAS plans to begin drilling development wells in north west sea, Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region

MYEIK- Malaysian state-owned oil company PETRONAS will be beginning drilling development wells in M-12, M-13 and M-14 in the north-west sea from Myeik Township, Taninthayi Region, in October, November and December.

The company yesterday held a meeting with the public in Myeik Township before carrying out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) concerning the exploration activities.

Although some departmental heads and NGOs attended the meeting, no officials from Fishery Organizations, locals and CSOs attended it.

“PETRONAS intends to drill three exploration wells again at the Yetagun gas field project aiming to increase oil production in Myanmar. So, they are going to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment. Before doing EIA, they met with the public,” said Myat Mon Swe, from ERM Myanmar.

The oil field is about 341-ft deep and it will be seven month lasting. PETRONAS Carigail Myanmar Ltd (PCML) is now operating oil and gas exploration activities in Myanmar.

Moreover, PETRONAS is a partner in a joint venture with interest in the Yetagun Gas Project in Taninthayi Region.

PC Myanmar (Hong Kong), the local subsidiary of Malaysian state giant PETRONAS will be implementing the drilling development wells in three blocks. And then, the company will show their research into EIA, Social Impact Assessment and Bio Impact Assessment to the public and researches will be submitted to the respective ministries, according to the Myat Mon Swe.

“In accordance with the environmental management, two ministries will check the reports[research]. If they[company] will not carry out the EIA, they must be taken actions until to stop their jobs. The Environmental Conservation Law being enacted in 2012 had described exactly. That’s why we are going to talk about the project and explain the activities concerning EIA,” said Myat Mon Swe.

But, the officials from PC Myanmar (Hong Kong) refused to answer the questions raised by media about the project.

PETRONAS is now running eight exploration wells in Taninthayi, Ayeyawady and Magway Regions and Rakhine States. PETRONAS first entered Myanmar with a production sharing contract for the offshore Yetagun gas field project in 1990, with production starting in 2003. The company has also been awarded rights to explore and produce four onshore blocks, according to Myanmar Times.

(Eleven Media Group: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/13698 )

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