KUCHING: The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak has intensified efforts to strengthen greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring by equipping its officers with technical knowledge in oil and gas process engineering.
The initiative was carried out through a two-day Oil and Gas Process Engineering workshop for non-process auditors, held from March 16 to 17, involving 34 officers from NREB headquarters and divisional offices across the state.
The programme forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance regulatory capacity in line with the implementation of the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance 2023.
Under the ordinance, companies in scheduled sectors, particularly energy and oil and gas, are required to submit verified carbon emission reports to NREB.
These reports must comply with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard, which includes both direct emissions from controlled sources and indirect emissions from purchased energy, measured in carbon dioxide equivalent.
The workshop focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of offshore oil and gas processing operations, particularly in identifying emission sources and interpreting technical documents such as Process Flow Diagrams and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams.
Participants were also exposed to common emission sources, including fugitive emissions and losses from process containment such as vents, drains, purges and blowdowns.
Controller of Environmental Quality Sarawak, Datuk Jack Liam, said the role of regulators is crucial in ensuring emissions are accurately quantified and properly reported.
“Emission sources are not always clearly visible in operator reports, equipment lists, or standard documentation. Identifying these sources requires both knowledge and practical skills, as well as a deeper understanding of how a facility operates,” he said.
He expressed hope that the training would improve officers’ confidence in verifying emission data and enhance the overall quality of environmental inspections and regulatory decisions.
The training is expected to support NREB officers in assessing the completeness and accuracy of carbon emission report submissions while strengthening Sarawak’s push towards its net-zero emissions goal by 2050.
