PETRONAS has officially launched the ASEAN Energy Sector Methane Leadership Programme 2.0 (MLP 2.0) in collaboration with key stakeholders from the ASEAN energy sector, government agencies, and international organizations. The program, themed “Turning Capacity into Action,” builds on the inaugural Methane Leadership Programme that ran from June 2023 to October 2024. This new initiative also marks a partnership with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) to create the Southeast Asia Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Centre (METEC).

MLP 2.0 aims to bolster emissions reduction targets and improve collaboration between businesses and governments, aligning with the Global Methane Pledge, which has been endorsed by over 150 countries, including Malaysia. Addressing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector is critical, as it represents one of the most effective measures for achieving climate goals. At the 42nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, regional ministers voiced their support for initiatives designed to reduce methane emissions. In the first iteration of the MLP, oil and gas companies across Southeast Asia were provided with valuable insights and resources through workshops and masterclasses that focused on various aspects of methane emissions, including measurement, monitoring, reporting, verification technologies, and reduction strategies. Since its inception, the program's membership has expanded from 13 to 18 participants.

MLP 2.0 is set to accelerate regional collaboration on methane emissions management technologies and facilitate demonstrations from both regional and international partners. Key contributors to this initiative include ASCOPE, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Asia Natural Gas & Energy Association (ANGEA), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), JOGMEC, Methane Guiding Principles (MGP), Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation Limited (PVEP), PT Pertamina (Persero), PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), The World Bank, International Methane Emissions Observatory (UNEP IMEO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United States Department of Commerce – Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), United States Department of Energy, United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and Woodside Energy.

This program is a vital element of PETRONAS’ pathway toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It is in line with the company's commitments to the United Nations Environment Programme Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) and the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter. Recently, PETRONAS achieved the OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard Pathway for the 2023 reporting year, underscoring its commitment to methane emissions reduction.

Under MLP 2.0, PETRONAS will collaborate with JOGMEC to establish METEC, which will be the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The center will significantly enhance regional efforts in managing methane emissions by providing oversight for measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification processes, as well as fostering research and development initiatives. METEC is planned to be set up in two locations in Malaysia: the Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP) in Bukit Rakit, Terengganu, and the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) in Tronoh, Perak.