PETRONAS Digital, the digital subsidiary of PETRONAS, has forged a significant partnership with Microsoft and Cegal in a strategic move aimed at expediting digital innovation across the upstream value chain.
The formalization of this collaboration took place through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) involving key figures including PETRONAS’ digital CEO, Phuah Aik Chong, K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, and Dagfinn Ringas, CEO of Cegal. Aadrin Azly, PETRONAS’ VP of Group Technology and Commercialization, was also present during the signing ceremony.
This collaboration revolves around the establishment of a robust computing and AI infrastructure platform using Microsoft Azure technology. This platform will play a pivotal role in supporting a diverse range of applications geared towards enhancing the operational efficiency of PETRONAS. Notably, the platform will facilitate the deployment of advanced AI, machine learning, and solutions related to energy transition and decarbonization.
The foundation for this endeavor rests on the existing collaborative efforts between PETRONAS, Microsoft, and Cegal, which have already yielded significant advancements in exploration activities. By harnessing the power of cloud agility, automation, and data lifecycle management, the partnership has succeeded in optimizing exploration procedures.
Of particular importance is the proposed construction of the Azure High-Performance Computing (HPC) platform, which carries the potential to benefit other players within Malaysia’s energy sector. This extends to production agreement contractors (PACs) who will be able to align their business objectives with this innovative platform.
This announcement underscores PETRONAS’ commitment to Microsoft’s cloud services, especially in light of the impending establishment of Microsoft‘s data center region in Malaysia. This strategic move is anticipated to usher in greater levels of innovation, enhanced operational agility, and cost-efficiency.
Parallel to these developments, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is also gearing up to launch its own infrastructure region within Malaysia. With a substantial investment of approximately RM25.5 billion by 2037, AWS is poised to leave a considerable imprint on the Malaysian technological landscape and PETRONAS is actively collaborating with AWS to ensure a seamless launch and operation.
