Tashkent: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has been encouraged to consider re-investing in Uzbekistan to enhance the republic’s oil and gas industry. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof stated that the Uzbekistan government has officially requested Malaysia for Petronas to reconsider its investment prospects in the country.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Uzbekistan authorities have expressed their interest in having Petronas re-engage in gas investments within Uzbekistan. Fadillah has promised to relay this request to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for further consideration. He also discussed the potential for improving technical capabilities in the energy sector, noting that Uzbekistan sends numerous students to Malaysian universities, notably Universiti Teknologi Petronas.

In 2013, Petronas withdrew from production sharing agreements in the Ustyurt region and the Baysun Investment Block Development in the Surkhandarya region, subsequently closing its representative office in Uzbekistan in 2014.

Fadillah, who also serves as the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, mentioned that during discussions with Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, there was an expressed interest in establishing a specialised university for producing experts in electrical and renewable energy fields, akin to Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten). Malaysia has agreed to assist in this endeavor, proposing Uniten as a model for the development of such an institution. Uzbekistan plans to send a team to Malaysia to explore curriculum development and expertise sharing.

The Uzbek government also suggested increasing opportunities for their students to pursue studies at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, in efforts to strengthen bilateral educational cooperation.