SPE-UTM SC Welcomes PETRONAS Delegates to UTM for an Insightful Event

imran03@graduate.utm.my

JOHOR BAHRU – On June 11, 2024, the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FKT) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) welcomed a distinguished delegation from PETRONAS. Mr. Hazli Sham Kassim, the Vice President of Development at Upstream Business, led the delegation. The event was organized in collaboration with the Society of Petroleum Engineers UTM Student Chapter (SPE-UTM SC). Its purpose was to provide students with the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and gain insights into the future of the oil and gas sector.

The event started with an opening speech by Professor Eng. Dr. Rahmat bin Mohsin, the Dean of the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FCEE), emphasized the significance of industry-academia collaboration and the role of such events in preparing students for their future careers in the energy sector. His words set an inspiring and anticipatory tone for the subsequent sessions.

Mr. Hazli Sham Kassim delivered a premier lecture on “Sustainability of Oil & Gas: Future Needs for New Graduates.” During the lecture, Mr. Kassim underscored the increasing energy demand resulting from the expanding global population and longer life expectancies. He emphasized the importance of understanding petroleum economics and provided insights into PETRONAS’s operational strategies. Addressing environmental concerns, Mr. Kassim indicated that oil and gas are not problematic but rather the carbon emissions associated with them. He stressed the concept of energy expansion and highlighted the role of renewable energy as a complementary solution rather than a complete replacement for oil and gas. In addition, he identified essential skills for new graduates, such as technological proficiency, agility, adaptability, and strong networking capabilities.

After the lecture, Dr. Kenny Ganie moderated a Premier Forum. The panel of industry experts featured Mr. Ahmad Zakir Salehudin, Senior General Manager, Development Petroleum Engineering; Mr. Rahimi Abd Wahab, Senior General Manager, Wells, Development; Dr. Sekhar Sathyamoorthy, General Manager, Production Technology; Mr. Noor Ismail Jaafar, General Manager, HRM Operations 1, Upstream; and Mr. Mohammad Shaufi Dahlan, General Manager, Wells Operations. In the forum, discussions centered around the sustainability of the oil and gas business and the future needs of the industry. Key topics included the transformative impact of digitalization and automation, strategies for achieving net-zero carbon emissions, and essential skills required for new graduates such as effective communication, empathy, leadership, passion, confidence, and staying updated with the latest industry developments.

The event concluded with an interactive dialogue session, during which students engaged directly with PETRONAS delegates. The session provided practical advice and insights into the industry, covering networking strategies, the importance of academic performance and involvement in professional societies like SPE, and the career prospects for degree holders versus those with advanced degrees.

SPE-UTM SC, in collaboration with FCEE, successfully managed the event. It underscored the importance of sustainability in the oil and gas sector and highlighted the evolving role of new graduates in driving these initiatives forward. The organizers and participants expressed their gratitude to the PETRONAS delegation for their invaluable contributions and look forward to future collaborations that will continue to inspire and educate the next generation of industry leaders.