Kuala Lumpur: PETRONAS, through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), has launched the Hydraulic Workover Unit (HWU) 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.
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.
