SARAWAK will buy a 10% stake in Petronas’ LNG (liquefied natural gas) train 9 in Bintulu, said Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg today.

He said it was delayed as the government and Petronas were still in talks to finalise the sale price.

“(I can) confirm we are taking it,” the chief minister said when asked to respond to PKR Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How’s recent request for the state government get an explanation from Petronas as to why the sale was delayed.

Last Monday, See said it has been three years since former chief minister Adenan Satem accepted the offer of 10% equity in the plant that could produce 3.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

He said in the three years, Petronas had concluded a sale of 10% with JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation and last week signed an agreement with Thailand’s PTTGL Investment Ltd for a similar share.

See’s question stemmed from a statement Petronas’ executive vice-president and chief executive officer of upstream Mohd Anuar Taib made on the Thai sale, where there was no mention of Sarawak’s equity.

The PKR lawmaker suggested the chief minister give Petronas a 30-day deadline to conclude the shareholders agreement with Sarawak.

“The state administration, particularly the state secretary (Morshidi Ghani) who sits on the board of directors of Petronas, owes Sarawakians an explanation why it is taking so long for Sarawak to conclude the deal.

“We have been slacking in the deal to protect Sarawak’s interests and rights,” See said.

Adenan, in the November 2016 budget sitting of the state legislative assembly, had said the state government aimed to buy a 10% equity in MLNG 9 and  increase its stake in the MLNG 2 plant. – August 9, 2017.