SINGAPORE, May 7 — Energy giant Shell is in talks with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Saudi Aramco to sell its gas station business in Malaysia, the second-largest such network in the country, four industry sources aware of the discussions said, and a deal could be worth up to US$1 billion (RM4.72 billion).
Shell declined to comment on the talks but said Malaysia is an important country to the company. Saudi Aramco also declined to comment.
According to its website, London-based Shell wholly owns around 950 fuel stations across the Southeast Asian country, with only Malaysia’s state-owned Petronas operating a bigger network.
Talks began in late 2023, and a deal may be finalised in the coming months, one source said. Two sources briefed on the matter put a potential deal size at roughly RM4 billion to RM5 billion (US$844 million to US$1.06 billion).
In addition to its fuel stations, Shell sells industrial lubricants, produces crude oil and natural gas offshore of Sarawak and Sabah states, and is a joint venture partner in two liquefied natural gas (LNG) ventures.
The sale is part of its chief executive officer Wael Sawan’s efforts to focus the company’s operations on the most profitable businesses. Shell has said it would look to divest 500 gas stations this year and next.
It is in the process of selling its Singapore refinery and petrochemical complex.
One of the sources said Shell’s effort to sell its Malaysian fuel stations is consistent with its move to sell its refinery on Bukom Island in Singapore, which supplies the network.
Saudi Aramco does not have fuel stations in Malaysia, although it owns 50 per cent of the 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) Pengerang refinery in Johor in a joint venture with Petronas, which sells fuel domestically and for export.
Aramco operates petrol stations in Saudi Arabia and also operates fuel stations elsewhere in joint ventures with French major TotalEnergies and South Korea’s S-Oil Corp.
— Reuters
