Malaysia Petroleum Management
Zero Routine Hydrocarbon Venting: Balancing Energy Needs and Environmental Responsibility in Malaysia
The achievement of Zero Routine Hydrocarbon Venting marks a pivotal moment in Malaysia’s upstream industry, reflecting the partnership between Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM) as a progressive host authority and PETRONAS Carigali as a committed operator.
As the authority overseeing Malaysia’s hydrocarbon resources, MPM has provided the policy direction, governance and support that enabled PETRONAS Carigali to pursue this ambitious goal.
Over a decade, PETRONAS Carigali implemented a dual-pronged approach to reduce routine hydrocarbon venting. The strategy centred on replacing routine hydrocarbon venting with controlled flaring to mitigate environmental impact, while capturing hydrocarbons previously vented and converting them into valuable resources.
By 2023, these efforts had led to the reduction of 9.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e) emissions across 19 PETRONAS Carigali-operated assets in Malaysia. Notably, 86% of these reductions were achieved through gas recovery for sales, while 14% were attributed to controlled flaring.
Malaysia's upstream sector faces a significant challenge as it must reduce its environmental impact while still ensuring a reliable supply of energy. As hydrocarbons continue to be a key component of the country’s energy mix, abrupt transitions could disrupt economic stability and energy access.
MPM continue to play a pivotal role by advocating responsible resource management, ensuring that hydrocarbons are produced and utilised as responsibly as possible. The move toward ZRV highlights that environmental responsibility and energy reliability are complementary priorities.
Building on this momentum, PETRONAS Carigali has committed to eliminating routine hydrocarbon flaring by 2030, a goal that aligns with World Bank’s “Zero Routine Flaring by 2023” aspiration. MPM will continue to play a crucial role in steering Malaysia’s upstream sector toward greater sustainability while ensuring energy remains accessible and secure.
