The Mitsui & Co and EPOMS joint venture has won a two-year pipeline isolation contract with a major Malaysian oil and gas operator covering onshore and offshore pipelines in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah.

Mitsui wholly owned subsidiary STATS Group on Thursday said that the contract, for an undisclosed sum, carries a one-year option.

The general workscope will see STATS provide the mystery operator with its Remote Tecno Plug technology in diameters ranging from six to 42 inches and specialist manpower, while EPOMS will supply all pumping, scaffolding, non-destructive testing (NDT) and other industrial services.

In recognition of its growing market share in Malaysia, STATS has committed to extending its in-country presence and has secured larger premises in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, to support its growing energy sector client base.

The contractor added that a significant investment is being made in strengthening its portfolio of Remote Tecno plug (STATS’ piggable isolation tools), hot tap (Sure Tap) and line stop (BISEP) tooling, which will be based in Malaysia to service local and regional clients.

In tandem, STATS is actively recruiting Malaysian nationals and plans to almost double its local workforce, which will have access to its award-winning skills development and training programmes.

EPOMS and STATS in May 2023 signed a strategic agreement to collaborate on Malaysian energy projects and to promote STATS’ range of pipeline hot tapping, plugging and inline isolation services.

“Malaysia is a strategically important energy hub for STATS, and we have built up a strong relationship with this operator over the years following our first pipeline isolation on their behalf in 2011,” commented Gareth Campbell, STATS Group’s regional manager Asia Pacific.

“Working with our highly respected partner EPOMS is proving to be an attractive offering to major oil and gas operators in the region and the benefits of agreeing to collaborate on project tenders is already paying off.”