PETRONAS, through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), has launched the Hydraulic Workover Unit  Academy to develop Malaysian talent and strengthen national capabilities in well abandonment and decommissioning.

Officiated by Senior Vice President of MPM, Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong on 23 October, the academy underscores PETRONAS’ commitment to ensure the continuous development of skilled talent to support safe, cost-efficient, and sustainable Plug and Abandonment (P&A) operations, a vital component of Malaysia’s upstream lifecycle.

Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong said, “The HWU Academy’s programmes are designed to equip Malaysians with the technical expertise needed to lead in emerging opportunities, complementing the national Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda for hands-on, industry-relevant training.”

He added, “This initiative aligns with PETRONAS’ aspiration to strengthen the local oil and gas ecosystem, empowering Malaysians to play a leading role in shaping the future of our industry. Velesto Energy Academy and ZNUSS will be the first to embark on this exciting training journey. This partnership reinforces our collective commitment to continuity, consistency and standardisation in developing Malaysia’s HWU capability through the HWU Academy framework.”

Building on the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MPM and industry partners, the HWU Academy progressed from concept to implementation, including two successful pilot training sessions to validate the programme framework.

Serving as a centre of excellence, the HWU Academy will provide hands-on training using retired assets such as the Velesto HWU Gait-01 training unit. Learners will also benefit from technology-driven modules developed with Halliburton, featuring virtual reality simulators and digital learning tools to enhance technical proficiency and operational readiness.

In addition, the academy will strengthen academic–industry collaboration through strategic partnerships with leading universities such as Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA (KKTM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), as well as with key ministries such as the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) and the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT), and the Malaysian Oil and Gas Services Council (MOGSC). These collaborations aim to facilitate student enrolment, programme accreditation and grant accessibility, whilst attracting both local and international talent.