PETRONAS CARIGALI STRENGTHENS STRATEGIC PORTFOLIO WITH NEW BLOCK A-18-01 PSC

BANGKOK, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- PC JDA Limited (PC JDA), a wholly owned subsidiary of PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (PETRONAS Carigali), together with PTTEP JDX Thailand Ltd. Co and PTTEP JDX Thailand (JDA) Limited (collectively, PTTEP JDX), has received approvals from the governments of Malaysia and Thailand, for the new Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Block A-18-01 in the MalaysiaThailand Joint Development Area (MTJDA).

The parties also signed a Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and PTT Public Company Limited, supporting the continued supply of natural gas from the block to both countries.

The exchange ceremony of the signed agreements on 14 September 2026 marks the culmination of extensive collaboration among the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Authority (MTJA), PC JDA and PTTEP JDX to establish a new contractual framework linking the continued development of the existing Block A-18 (beyond the expiry of the current PSC on 20 April 2029) while incorporating an adjacent exploration area with an additional resource potential under the new PSC.

With a 35-year term commencing from 1 January 2026, the new PSC for Block A-18-01 encompasses both the existing Block A-18 area and the additional new area, providing an integrated platform to sustain production, unlock further resource potential and optimise the block’s long-term development.

Director of PC JDA, Ainoor Abizzurin B Abdullah said, “The approval of the new PSC ushers in the next phase of development for Block A-18-01, reflecting the enduring resolve and strong collaboration between Malaysia and Thailand. As a key source of natural gas and condensate for both countries, this milestone reinforces our shared commitment to maximise value through enhanced resource monetisation and operational synergies”.

Spanning approximately 7,250 square kilometres, the MTJDA comprises Blocks A-18-01 and B-17-01, which have a combined natural gas production capacity of approximately 700 million standard cubic feet per day with equal distribution to Malaysia and Thailand.

Block A-18-01 comprises the Cakerawala, Bumi, Suriya, Bulan, South Bulan, Senja, East Bumi, Samudra and Wira gas fields, including the open area. Meanwhile,Block B-17-01 comprises the Muda, Tapi, Tanjung, Amarit, Jengka, Melati and Andalas gas fields.

The new PSC reinforces PETRONAS Carigali’s commitment to investing in strategic assets, and pursuing sustainable growth for regional energy security.

Issued by:

Channels and Media Relations
Group Strategic Relations & Communications
PETRONAS

SOURCE: PETRONAS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Esha Lim Hwee Nee
Email: eshalim.hweenee@petronas.com

Name: Nabil Basaruddin
Email: nabil.basaruddin@petronas.com

Name: Hana Nazsulaeeqa Harun
Email: hananazsulaeeqa.haru@petronas.com.my

--BERNAMA

CIMB wins Malaysia’s Best Retail, Investment and SME Banking Awards from Euromoney

 

Second from left: Jason Wong, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Projects, SME Banking Malaysia, CIMB Bank; Maznee Kamaruddin, Head, Equity Capital Markets & Syndicate, CIMB Investment Bank; Nor Masliza Sulaiman, Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Investment Bank; Haniz Nazlan, Chief Executive Officer, Group Consumer Banking, CIMB Group; and Daniel Cheong, Head of Consumer Banking Malaysia, CIMB Bank, celebrating CIMB’s three wins at the 2026 Euromoney Awards for Excellence.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- CIMB Bank Berhad and CIMB Investment Bank (collectively “CIMB”) have been recognised for strong performance, innovation and customer impact, winning three key awards at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026. CIMB was named Malaysia’s Best Retail Bank, Malaysia’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs and Malaysia’s Best Investment Bank.

These recognitions reflect CIMB’s continued focus on delivering customer-centric solutions through innovation, digital capabilities and deep market expertise across its retail, SME and investment banking businesses.

Novan Amirudin, Group Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Group, said, “These recognitions are a testament to the trust of our customers and the dedication of our teams across the Bank. They reaffirm CIMB’s purpose of advancing customers and society by making financial solutions more accessible, relevant and impactful for the people and businesses we serve.

We thank our clients and customers for the confidence they have placed in us over the years. As their needs continue to evolve, we remain committed to being a trusted partner supporting individuals in realising their aspirations and helping businesses achieve their growth ambitions through meaningful and lasting value creation.”

In retail banking, the Bank continued to deepen its diversified franchise through personalised propositions, digitally enabled journeys and stronger engagement across key customer segments. Revenue and profitability advanced during the year, supported by market share gains across auto finance, credit cards and retail deposits, alongside continued progress in digital sales and customer cross-sell. The Bank also continued to strengthen its wealth proposition, underpinned by differentiated investment solutions, broader product diversity, CIO-led advisory capabilities and enhanced digital wealth platforms. Momentum was particularly strong within the Preferred segment, reflecting deeper affluent engagement and the Bank's continued focus on expanding advisory-led and relationship-based wealth capabilities.

For SMEs, CIMB continued to advance digital banking with the launch of CIMB OCTO Biz, connecting account opening, financing and transaction banking through a seamless end-toend digital journey. The platform has onboarded more than 280,000 customers to date, offering real-time cash flow visibility, payments, foreign exchange, trade and financing services. The Bank also expanded financing access via embedded merchant financing with TNG eWallet, in addition to flexible financing through its SME FlexiCash, which uses account history and transaction behaviour to determine pre-qualified limits and link repayments to a proportion of revenue, better supporting businesses with uneven cashflows.

Meanwhile, CIMB Investment Bank’s leadership across Malaysia’s equity and debt capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and bespoke financial advisory solutions, as well as its ability to execute complex transactions across multiple products, sectors and jurisdictions, further reinforced its position as a leading investment bank. In 2025, CIMB Investment Bank secured the #1 ranking in Malaysian equity and debt capital markets by deal value and share of wallet, while also capturing the top position in ASEAN equity and debt capital markets by deal value, with its execution of cross-border transactions reinforcing its position as a leading M&A and advisory house in ASEAN.

These three accolades reinforce CIMB’s brand promise, Moving You Forward, reflecting its continued focus on empowering customers and communities through accessible, inclusive and purpose-driven financial solutions.

For more than 30 years, Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence have recognised financial institutions that set the global standard in performance, innovation and client impact. The Awards for Excellence programme evaluates financial institutions through Euromoney’s benchmarking framework, using comparable metrics, structured submissions and a transparent research process to assess institutions against their peers.

SOURCE: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Anis Azharuddin / Kelvin Jude Muthu
Group Corporate Communications
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Email: anis.azharuddin@cimb.com / kelvinjude.muthu@cimb.com

--BERNAMA

MASAN HIGH-TECH MATERIALS EXPANDS GLOBAL TUNGSTEN BUSINESS

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Masan High-Tech Materials (MSR), a Vietnamese strategic materials company, is expanding its tungsten business beyond its Nui Phao mine through resource development, processing capabilities and international partnerships.

In a statement, the company said its strategy is aimed at strengthening its position across the global tungsten value chain as supply chains are reshaped and demand for the strategic material grows. China currently accounts for about 82 per cent of global tungsten production.

MSR owns the Nui Phao polymetallic mine in Vietnam, one of the largest operating tungsten mines outside China, and has developed tungsten chemical processing capabilities through its Masan Tungsten Chemicals (MTC) business over a decade, with an annual capacity of approximately 9,345 tonnes.

The company is also advancing the potential addition of approximately 115 million tonnes of polymetallic tungsten resources at the Nui Phao Expansion and Nui Chiem areas, which could extend mining and processing operations by about 20 to 30 years, subject to the necessary procedures.

MSR is also expanding access to external feedstock to improve utilisation of its processing capacity. Its partnership with South Korea-based GB Innovation (GBI), which owns tungsten resources in South Korea, will enable MSR to process third-party feedstock in Vietnam into higher-value tungsten products.

The partnership supports plans to increase tungsten oxide production capacity to more than 8,000 tonnes of tungsten trioxide (WO₃) per year, while the company is also pursuing recycling initiatives to diversify its raw-material sources.

MSR recorded a net profit after tax before minority interest of 2,202 billion Vietnamese dong in the first six months of 2026, compared with a loss of 216 billion Vietnamese dong in the same period a year earlier. Net debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined to 2.1 times at the end of the second quarter.

The company said it accounts for about 21 per cent of tungsten supply outside China, with more than US$700 million invested in its mining and processing infrastructure. (US$1 = RM4.06)

MSR said its tungsten chemicals, including ammonium paratungstate, yellow tungsten oxide and blue tungsten oxide, serve industrial and technology applications globally.

The company said the combination of long-life resources, advanced processing capabilities and international partnerships would enable it to participate across more stages of the tungsten value chain and support supply diversification beyond China.

-- BERNAMA

CGN Unveils Advanced Nuclear Power Technology At Shenzhen Conference

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- China's Gen-III+ advanced nuclear power technology, "Hualong One" 2.0, was unveiled at the CGN 2026 Sustainable Development Conference in Shenzhen, attended by more than 200 representatives from 28 countries and regions.

Building on the existing defence-in-depth (DiD) safety architecture, "Hualong One" 2.0 comprehensively optimises 14 safety features, with notable improvements in nine key safety indicators.

According to a statement, the technology enables operators to remain without intervention for 72 hours post-accident and achieves seven-day accident self-sustaining capability.

It also simplifies auxiliary system configurations, with pipeline length reduced by approximately 31 per cent, process valves by about 25 per cent, nuclear island building volume by 21 per cent and nuclear island installation volume by around 33 per cent.

In addition, the unit automation operation ratio is increased by 66 per cent, enabling more precise system regulation and faster response, while key equipment features 100 per cent localisation capability.

Previously, CGN launched "Hualong One", China's Gen-III nuclear power technology with independent intellectual property rights. To date, 10 "Hualong One" units have been put into commercial operation both domestically and internationally.

On this basis, the "Hualong One" research and development team, in collaboration with industry partners, has completed nearly 100 design optimisations and iteratively rolled out "Hualong One" 2.0.

On July 31, the State Council Executive Meeting approved eight nuclear power units, among which Phase III of the Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant of CGN has been designated as a demonstration project for "Hualong One" 2.0.

-- BERNAMA

PETRONAS PROGRESSES MALAYSIA’S UPSTREAM DEVELOPMENT WITH ESTUARY CLUSTER PSC AWARD AND MUTIARA CLUSTER SEISMIC DATA HANDOVER

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- PETRONAS, through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), has marked two key milestones in advancing Malaysia's upstream sector with the award of the Estuary Cluster Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and the handover of seismic data for the Mutiara Cluster, supporting continued exploration and resource development efforts.

MPM recently awarded the Small Field Asset Production Sharing Contract (SFA PSC) for the Estuary Cluster to Harvester Energy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Harvester), a wholly owned subsidiary of Harvester Energy Pty Ltd, based in Australia.

Comprising the Lerek, Korbu and Diwangsa fields, the Estuary Cluster is located within the Malay Basin, a proven hydrocarbon province offshore Peninsular Malaysia. The cluster is expected to unlock stranded marginal oil resources through a technology-led development concept centred on a novel shallow-water subsea development approach.

This approach is expected to accelerate first commercial production, reduce capital expenditure and minimise the physical footprint compared with conventional development concepts. It also supports the reuse and redeployment of production infrastructure, in line with PETRONAS’ intent to enable innovative, commercially viable and lower-impact solutions for Malaysia’s small field assets.

Senior Vice President of MPM, Datuk Ir. (Dr) Bacho Pilong said, “The award of the Estuary Cluster PSC reflects PETRONAS’ continued focus on unlocking Malaysia’s discovered resources through innovative and fit-for-purpose development solutions. By introducing technology-led approaches, we are opening new pathways to monetise small and stranded fields that may otherwise remain undeveloped.”

The award marks Harvester’s entry into Malaysia’s upstream sector and reinforces Malaysia’s position as an attractive destination for agile and technology-focused energy players seeking to participate in small field development opportunities.

The cluster was offered through Malaysia Bid Round Plus (MBR+), which complements the annual Malaysia Bid Round (MBR) by providing investors with year-round access to selected upstream opportunities, and technical data through PETRONAS myPROdata. Beyond creating new investment opportunities, MPM is also supporting the progression of existing discoveries towards development by reducing technical uncertainties and enabling more informed development decisions.

MPM has also recently handed over an enhanced 3D seismic dataset to DIALOG Resources Sdn Bhd (DIALOG) for the Mutiara Cluster, located off the east coast of Sabah, marking a significant step towards progressing the cluster’s development towards production and advancing discovered resources in the Sandakan Basin.

Datuk Ir. (Dr) Bacho said, “The delivery of this enhanced dataset marks an important milestone for the Sandakan Basin, representing MPM’s first acquisition of new 3D seismic data over an area with existing coverage. The improved subsurface imaging will enable DIALOG to better evaluate Mutiara Cluster’s resources and support East Sabah’s long-term energy security.”

The Mutiara Cluster comprises five discovered marginal oil and gas fields, namely Nymphe, Nymphe North, Kuda Terbang, Benrinnes and Mutiara Hitam. Awarded to DIALOG under an SFA PSC during MBR 2025, the cluster is targeting first production by 2029.

The development of the Mutiara Cluster is further supported by efforts to optimise project cost and accelerate the First Gas Date, as well as the sharing of information and technical proposals to advance the cluster’s development.

These efforts are complemented by the ongoing collaboration with Sabah state agencies to foster development synergy and stakeholder alignment in support of Sabah’s East Coast long-term energy growth.

Together, the Estuary Cluster PSC award and the Mutiara Cluster seismic data handover demonstrate PETRONAS’ broader approach to strengthening Malaysia’s upstream proposition by widening access to investment opportunities and enabling resources to progress towards production more efficiently.

Issued by:
Channels and Media Relations
Group Strategic Relations & Communications
PETRONAS

For photos, please access the files here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zTHdACJhE8VhXcDMNZgZfymQcmUVypYL?usp=drive_link

Photo captions:

MPM Pic-1.jpg: PETRONAS, through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), recently awarded Small Field Asset Production Sharing Contract (SFA PSC) for the Estuary Cluster to Harvester Energy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Present at ceremony were (from left to right) Senior General Manager of Governance & Strategic Relations, MPM, Nurunnajwa Mohd Aras; Managing Director of Harvester Energy, Christopher Merrick; witnessed by Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, SVP of MPM.

MPM Pic-2.jpg: During the same event, MPM handed over enhanced 3D seismic dataset to DIALOG Resources Sdn Bhd (DIALOG) for the Mutiara Cluster. Present at ceremony were (from left to right) Senior General Manager of Resource Exploration, MPM, Azmir Zamri; Deputy Managing Director, Upstream of DIALOG, Saiful AzuanAbdul Aziz; witnessed by SVP of MPM Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, and Chief Executive Officer of DIALOG, Mustaffa Kamal Abu Bakar.
SOURCE: PETRONAS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:​
Name: Hana Nazsulaeeqa Harun
Email: hananazsulaeeqa.haru@petronas.com

Name: Nabil Basaruddin
Email: nabil.basaruddin@petronas.com

--BERNAMA

Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword Drives Series Past 10 Mln Sales

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Capcom Co Ltd announced that worldwide sales of Onimusha: Way of the Sword surpassed one million units on its first day of release, pushing cumulative sales of the Onimusha series past 10 million units.

The latest title marks the first new game in the series in more than 20 years and is a swordplay action game featuring protagonist Miyamoto Musashi, set in Edo-era Kyoto. The game combines the series’ sword-based action with updated technology, a narrative-driven experience and detailed visual environments.

Capcom in a statement said several pre-launch marketing initiatives, including multiple demo releases and hands-on exhibitions, helped broaden awareness of the title and contributed to its strong launch-day performance.

The company said it continues to release major new titles while also focusing on reactivating intellectual properties (IPs) that have not received new releases recently. Capcom aims to maximise corporate value by leveraging its extensive content library, including the Onimusha franchise.

The Onimusha series comprises swordplay action games in which players take on the roles of warriors with supernatural powers derived from the Oni, battling monsters seeking world domination.

The series has recorded cumulative sales of more than 10 million units since the first title was released in 2001, with Way of the Sword helping the franchise reach the latest milestone.

Capcom is a global developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, personal computers (PCs), handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, the company is known for major franchises including Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Devil May Cry and Ace Attorney.

-- BERNAMA

BIDGELY TO SHOWCASE AI-DRIVEN SMART METER INSIGHTS AT ENLIT ASIA 2026

Bidgely will showcase how AI unlocks the true potential of smart meter data to help utilities drive enterprise-wide impact.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bidgely will showcase its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven smart meter analytics at Enlit Asia 2026, demonstrating how utilities across Southeast Asia can use advanced data insights to improve customer experience, protect revenue and strengthen grid planning.


In a statement, Bidgely said the event will be held from Sept 22 to 24 in BSD City, Jakarta, bringing together utilities, regulators, technology providers and energy leaders from across the ASEAN region.


Bidgely Vice President for EMEA and APAC, Nipun Jain, said utilities across Southeast Asia have established a strong digital foundation through rapid advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) rollouts, with smart meters generating valuable operational data.


He said the company will demonstrate how AI and machine-learning analytics can turn interval data into outcomes such as reducing bill shock, addressing non-technical losses and building a more resilient grid.


At Enlit Asia, Bidgely will highlight solutions across three areas — value to consumer, revenue protection and advanced grid intelligence.


Its consumer-focused solutions provide personalised, appliance-level energy-use insights while equipping customer service representatives with data to resolve complex enquiries. For revenue protection, its AI algorithms analyse AMI data to identify anomalies and help utilities detect energy theft and reduce non-technical losses.


For grid intelligence, Bidgely will demonstrate how utilities can gain greater visibility into distribution assets, including transformer capacity and asset stress, as the adoption of distributed energy resources such as solar and electric vehicles increases.


Bidgely’s UtilityAI platform can be deployed as a fully managed software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution or within a utility’s preferred cloud and data environment, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Snowflake and Databricks.


The company will also participate in thought leadership sessions covering digitalisation and AI, ASEAN energy dialogue and grid modernisation, alongside three technical presentations on asset visibility, grid and feeder-level forecasting, and distributed intelligence for greater grid flexibility and resilience.


Through its participation at Enlit Asia 2026, Bidgely aims to demonstrate how utilities can move beyond using smart meter data primarily for billing and apply AI-powered analytics to support operational intelligence, customer engagement and the transition towards more resilient energy networks.


-- BERNAMA