KUCHING: A decision by four young engineers to leave secure careers a decade ago has evolved into a Sarawak based energy services company that is steadily expanding its footprint across conventional oilfield services and emerging clean energy technologies.
Established in 2016, Turbowolf Resources Sdn Bhd was built by four friends who took a leap of faith to create the company from the ground up, with managing director Terence Baru Meechang describing the journey as one defined first by survival before growth.
“We earned a lot, but we had no life. That made us rethink our priorities. We left stable jobs knowing there were no guarantees, but we believed we could create something of our own,” said Terence, recalling how the realisation that he had spent less than six years of his life with his parents by the age of 28 prompted him to reassess his priorities.
Incorporated in Bintulu as a specialised well intervention and wireline services provider, Turbowolf weathered industry downturns, the COVID-19 pandemic, political uncertainty and global disruptions during its formative years, forcing it to prioritise resilience over rapid expansion.
Terence admitted the founders entered business with little entrepreneurial experience, resulting in costly lessons as they navigated operational demands and the complexities of the oil and gas supply chain.
“Back then, we were like a bunch of headless chickens. We lost so much money because we had zero knowledge about running a business.
“It was a very expensive lesson, but we’re grateful for it because no consultant could have taught us what we learned through experience,” he said.
A turning point came during a vendor engagement session organised by PETRONAS in Bintulu, which opened opportunities for Turbowolf to enter the upstream oil and gas ecosystem and demonstrate its technical capabilities.
According to a statement, the company now operates across four core divisions comprising energy development, asset management, clean technologies and trading, while increasing its presence in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Beyond its conventional energy business, Turbowolf has invested in clean technologies since 2017, including research on water and power systems, carbon capture and green fuel technologies, with several initiatives progressing into commercial applications while others remain under development.
Terence said the firm is also strengthening its commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“We are proud to have achieved intermediate level certification in this space, and this is only the beginning. We will continue to raise the bar,” he said.
A decade after its establishment, Turbowolf continues to pursue regional growth while remaining guided by the teamwork and shared vision that brought its four founders together.
