OGA 2017: Going places with Barakah Offshore

With the oil price being the ‘worst enemy’ for the oil and gas industry, Barakah Offshore Petroleum, is still expanding their business covering the whole chain from offshore, upstream to downstream.

“We try to always expand into new business ventures, not just focus on the existing ones we have,” says Mariyah Yusoff, the manager of Business Development.

When creating a business opportunity, the company focuses on collaborating with international partners. Barakah Offshore recently received the contract for a partnership with Ocean Installer, a company based in Amsterdam, as well as another partnership with a German company. Making the most out of the partnership, Barakah is able to utilize and learn about new technology operation from the companies. “It is a learning process,” she said.

Since their establishment in 2000 as a pre-commissioning, commissioning and de-commissioning pipeline company, Barakah, otherwise known as PBJV Group Sdn Bhd, has continued moving forward with business ventures, despite the decline of the oil and gas industry.

“By year 2006, we got VDP awarded by Petronas, under Vendor Development Program for pre-commissioning pipeline for five years,” Mariyah said. Barakah was also awarded a contract by Malaysia for five years since the year 2013.

In addition, Petronas Gas Berhad also awarded the company for their 230-km onshore gas pipeline Rapid Penerang. As the pipeline is almost done, Barakah has currently handed it back to PJB.

The company is very much focused on the downstream market today, as they recently received a GR pipe in Rapid Penerang, as well as another contract from Asian Bintulu Fertilizer.

In order to level with the current market, Barakah restructured their management from top to bottom. “It is actually a relationship or leadership that you can convey to your staff, so that we can sustain and maintain the efficiency and the quality of their work,” she says.

With the unpredictable change of the oil price, Barakah is practicing cost optimization, in every aspect of the business operation, from operations to offices, to deduction of the salary, according to Mariyah.

Although cost reduction is necessary with the unpredictable oil price, Mariyah is determined that Barakah will do their best to save the workers from being retrenched or laid off. “The heart of the company is the staff, the workers, the best thing we can do, is to protect our staff so that they can sustain their career,” she says.