
DPM Fadillah: Petronas job cuts unrelated to Petros appointment as sole gas aggregator
KUCHING (June 7): Petroliam Nasional Berhad's (Petronas) decision to cut over 5,000 jobs, along with a freeze on all promotions and recruitment until December 2026, is unrelated to the recent recognition of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) as Sarawak's sole gas aggregator.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof clarified this when met by reporters at the Majlis Ibadah Korban held at Masjid Darul Husni Warrahmah here today.
'No, it has nothing to do with that. It is actually due to the global situation, particularly the decline and fluctuation in oil prices,' he said.
Petronas had earlier stated that its internal budgeting was based on Brent crude prices averaging between US$75 and US$80 per barrel.
However, the global benchmark has since fallen and is currently hovering around US$65 per barrel.
'Even for Petronas to remain sustainable, oil prices must be above US$60 per barrel. That is why they have to re-evaluate their position,' Fadillah added.
MORE TO COME fadillah yusof gas aggregator job cuts Petronas Petros
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
6 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
OPEC+ slated to increase oil output in bid to regain market share
LONDON: Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other key members of the OPEC+ alliance are expected to further hike oil production in a meeting Sunday, a move analysts say is aimed at regaining market share amid resilient crude prices. The anticipated output increase by the group of eight oil-producing countries known as the "Voluntary Eight" (V8), would be the latest in a series of hikes that began in April. In a bid to boost prices, the wider OPEC+ group -- comprising the 12-nation Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies -- in recent years had agreed to three different tranches of output cuts that amounted to almost 6 million barrels per day (bpd) in total. Analysts expect the V8 group -- namely Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman -- to agree on another output increase of 548,000 bpd for September, a target similar to the one approved in August. According to UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, the likely "quota increase is largely priced in" already, with the price of Brent, the global benchmark for oil, expected to remain near its current level of around $70 per barrel after Sunday's decision. Since April, the V8 group has placed increased focus on regaining market share over price stability, a policy shift after years of enforcing production cuts to prop up prices. But it remains unclear which strategy the group intends to pursue after Sunday's meeting. According to Warren Patterson, an analyst at ING, the V8 nations will likely "take a pause in supply hikes after September". Crude prices have held up better than most analysts had predicted since the production increases began. Experts say that is mainly due to traditionally high summer demand and significant geopolitical risk premiums being built into prices, particularly since the 12-day Iran-Israel war. Moreover, the actual increase in production between March and June was less than the increase in quotas during the same period, said Staunovo, quoting OPEC sources. However, the market is "set to move into large surplus" of oil supply from October, Patterson noted, warning that OPEC+ should remain careful not to be "adding to this surplus". "OPEC+ is doing the balancing act of regaining market share and not sending oil prices plummeting", which would lead to a drop it profits, Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM, told AFP. Saudi Arabia, the group's most influential member, relies heavily on oil revenues to finance its ambitious plan aimed at diversifying the economy. The unwinding of another set of production cuts of around 3.7 million bpd is to be discussed at the next OPEC+ ministerial meeting in November. With demand being unstable in the face of US President Donald Trump's erratic policymaking on trade and supply under threat by geopolitical risks, experts say it is difficult to predict what is next for the oil market. In the latest twist in late July, Trump gave Moscow ten days to end the war in Ukraine, saying that his country would otherwise impose sanctions on Russia. "We're gonna put on tariffs and stuff," he vowed. Trump had previously hinted to an indirect 100-percent surcharge on countries that continue to buy Russian products, particularly hydrocarbons, in order to dry up Moscow's revenues. He has specifically targeted India, the second largest importer of Russian oil at around 1.6 million bpd since the beginning of the year. The developments could prompt OPEC+ to make further policy decisions. However, "OPEC+ will react only to real supply disruptions" and not to price increases linked to risk premiums, said Staunovo.


The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
OPEC+ to boost oil output amid market share recovery efforts
LONDON: Saudi Arabia, Russia, and six other OPEC+ members are expected to approve another oil production increase during their meeting on Sunday. Analysts suggest the move aims to reclaim market share as crude prices stay strong despite recent output hikes. The group, known as the 'Voluntary Eight' (V8), may raise production by 548,000 barrels per day (bpd) for September, mirroring August's target. This follows a series of increases since April, marking a shift from previous policies focused on cutting output to stabilize prices. UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo noted that the expected quota rise is 'largely priced in,' with Brent crude likely holding near $70 per barrel post-decision. The V8's strategy now prioritizes market share over price stability, reversing years of production cuts. However, ING analyst Warren Patterson predicts a pause in supply hikes after September. Despite rising quotas, actual production growth has been slower, partly due to strong summer demand and geopolitical risks, including tensions from the Iran-Israel conflict. Staunovo cited OPEC data showing lower-than-expected output growth between March and June. Patterson warned of a potential oil surplus from October, urging OPEC+ to avoid worsening the imbalance. PVM analyst Tamas Varga highlighted the group's challenge: 'OPEC+ is doing the balancing act of regaining market share and not sending oil prices plummeting.' Saudi Arabia, heavily reliant on oil revenue, faces pressure as it pursues economic diversification. Geopolitical uncertainties, including U.S. trade policies and potential sanctions on Russia, add volatility. President Donald Trump's recent threats to impose tariffs on Russian oil buyers, like India, could further disrupt markets. Staunovo emphasized OPEC+ would only react to actual supply disruptions, not speculative price hikes. The group's next ministerial meeting in November will discuss unwinding additional cuts of 3.7 million bpd. - AFP


The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Palestinian Red Crescent staff killed in Israeli attack on Gaza HQ
RAMALLAH: The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that one of its staff members was killed and three others wounded in an Israeli attack on its headquarters in Khan Yunis, Gaza. The aid organisation stated, 'One Palestine Red Crescent Society staff member was killed and three others injured after Israeli forces targeted the Society's headquarters in Khan Younis, igniting a fire on the building's first floor.' A video shared by PRCS showed fires engulfing the building, with debris scattered across the floors. The incident occurred two days after US envoy Steve Witkoff inspected a US-backed aid station in Gaza to assess food distribution efforts. UN agencies have repeatedly warned of worsening conditions, stating that Gaza is 'on the brink of a full-scale famine.' In March, eight PRCS staff, six Gaza civil defence workers, and one UNRWA employee were killed in an Israeli attack in southern Gaza, according to OCHA. The ongoing conflict, triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, has resulted in 1,219 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has claimed at least 60,332 lives, predominantly civilians, as per the Hamas-run health ministry. - AFP