Petronas Digital, the digital division of Petronas, a global energy group based in Malaysia and operating in over 100 countries, has partnered with Microsoft and Cegal, a global tech company specializing in energy and security. The collaboration aims to accelerate digital innovation for the upstream value chain, which involves the search and recovery of oil and gas.
As part of this collaboration, a Microsoft Azure High-Performance Computing (HPC) AI infrastructure platform will be built to support various applications that optimize Petronas Upstream's operational efficiency. These applications include advanced artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, energy transition and decarbonization.
The agreement was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Petronas Digital CEO Phuah Aik Chong, Microsoft Malaysia Managing Director K Raman and Cegal CEO Dagfinn Ringås. This collaboration builds upon Petronas' existing partnership with Microsoft and Cegal, which has already improved exploration activities through cloud agility, automation and data lifecycle management.
The construction of the Azure HPC platform will also benefit other partners in Malaysia's energy sector, including production agreement contractors (PACs), in achieving their business objectives. K Raman explains that this collaboration will bring technological advancements, leading to growth and efficiency in both the Petronas Upstream business unit and the overall energy sector.
The announcement also highlights Petronas' support for Microsoft's cloud services, particularly their upcoming data center region in Malaysia, which will enable greater innovation, agility, and cost optimization.