Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad (‘Hibiscus Petroleum’ or ‘Company’) through its subsidiary, Hibiscus EP (Brunei) B.V. (HEB) officially launched the start-up of its Low-Pressure Compressor (LPC) Project on 4 June 2026 at the Onshore Processing Plant in Lumut, after commencing its operations in April 2026.

This marked a key milestone for the Company in sustaining production from the Block B Maharajalela Jamalulalam field.

The launch ceremony was attended by guest of honour, Managing Director of the Petroleum Authority of Brunei Darussalam (PA) Awang Shamir Salahudin, alongside key stakeholder representatives from government agencies, project partners, and the local community.

The LPC project has established several notable industry milestones, including being the world’s first water-saturated Integrated Compressor Line (ICL) compressor and Asia’s first operational ICL compressor. Upon integration with the planned 12 MW solar farm that is currently being built, it is also expected to be the world’s first ICL compressor powered using solar energy. Moreover, it contributed two-million manhours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) incidents to HEB’s 27 Year LTI-free milestone.

Project Manager Irman Yudiana delivered an overview highlighting the project journey, key challenges, and strategic importance in strengthening the value of HEB’s assets through integrated technology and responsible operations. Guests at the event were subsequently treated to a short documentary featuring members of the project team, chronicling the project’s journey from early procurement and construction under live-plant simultaneous operations conditions to the successful start-up in April 2026.

The Managing Director of PA congratulated Hibiscus Petroleum and its partners on the successful startup stating, “The Petroleum Authority of Brunei Darussalam congratulates Hibiscus Petroleum and its partners in the Maharajalela asset on the safe and successful startup of the Low-Pressure Compression (LPC) Project.

“This milestone is the result of the combined efforts and commitment of all parties involved, including contractors and supporting agencies.

“Achievements such as this are important for Brunei as they demonstrate what is possible when we continue to push boundaries, maximise the value of our existing resources and create lasting value from our oil and gas assets.

“As stewards of the nation’s petroleum resources, PA remains committed to supporting and challenging the upstream industry to unlock greater value and drive continued innovation across our basins. We look forward to seeing more opportunities realised through strong collaboration and technical excellence.”

Managing Director of Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad Dato’ Dr Kenneth Pereira said, “The successful delivery of the LPC project demonstrates Hibiscus Petroleum’s ability to unlock greater value from existing resources. Beyond strengthening production sustainability, the project enhances asset reliability, supports lower-emission operations through innovative solutions and advances responsible energy development.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, resilience and collaborative spirit of our team, who overcame complex challenges to deliver the project safely and successfully. It also reinforces our long-standing partnership with the Government of Brunei Darussalam in supporting the nation’s energy sector and aspirations towards Wawasan 2035. Since start-up, the project has delivered encouraging production gains, which are expected to contribute positively to our Q4 FY2026 financial and operational performance.”

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin