Petronas, Aerodyne to collaborate on the deployment and commercialisation of drone-based solutions

PETRONAS’ technology commercialisation arm, PETRONAS Technology Ventures Sdn Bhd (PTVSB) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Aerodyne Oil and Gas Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Aerodyne Group, to explore opportunities for deployment and commercialisation of drone-based solutions.

The collaboration marks another significant step forward in PETRONAS’ sustainability journey. It is set to elevate the adoption of drone-based technology in the energy industry and beyond to drive operational optimisation while reducing carbon footprint and improve worksite safety. It is also part of PETRONAS’ efforts to enable remote and autonomous operations through the expansion of robotics and digitalisation.

A Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) was signed here yesterday between the two parties. PTVSB was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mahpuzah Abai and PTVSB chairman Dr. Nasir Darman, who is also PETRONAS Chief Technology Officer, while Aerodyne was represented by its founder and Group Chief Executive Officer Kamarul A. Muhamed and Director of Aerodyne Oil & Gas Karim Hamzah.

PETRONAS President and Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik witnessed the signing ceremony. Also present were PETRONAS Senior Vice President of Project Delivery and Technology, Bacho Pilong, and PETRONAS Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Mazuin Ismail.

In his speech, Datuk Tengku Taufik said, “PETRONAS believes the partnership with Aerodyne is testimony to the shared vision of both organisations to propel Malaysia to the forefront of drone technology solutions in the world. With PETRONAS’ inhouse technologies and Aerodyne’s expertise, we look forward to the exciting potential drone-based technology will bring for the energy industry as well as other sectors, particularly in improving safety and reducing carbon footprint at worksites.”

In addition to a joint deep dive into innovative drone-based solutions for technology deployment and commercialisation, both companies will also look into technology enhancement, human capital development, the establishment of related regulations and standards, as well as push to liberalise the usage of drone services in Malaysian industries.
Dr Mahpuzah said, “With this collaboration, the sky is the limit as we are joining forces with a homegrown drone services provider now ranked first in the world. Combining the expertise of two corporations so passionate about advancing technology to enrich lives, we will soon chart new possibilities for drone-based solutions.”

Kamarul added, “Pooling our expertise and resources to develop unique and creative solutions for today’s challenges in the O&G sector is an exciting approach and will enable both parties to tap into opportunities in Malaysia and beyond.”

The importance of drone-based technology is exemplified by the establishment of the PETRONAS Drone Center to facilitate deployment. PETRONAS has successfully demonstrated inter-platform delivery for payloads of 5kg within 5km distance. Through this collaboration, both parties will also jointly explore technical and economic viability of drone solutions with higher payloads and longer distance to increase logistics efficiency and speed.