Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Garnaut's zero emissions policy failed to account for national oil companies (unless Garnaut 's models assume an invasion of China,Russia, the Mid East,South East Asia etc to seize and shut-down their oilfields)

by Ganesh Sahathevan


Continuing with series on Ross Garnaut's prophesy and his demands that Australia go for zero emissions by 2025 (or sooner). See first:

Economist Ross Garnaut failed to account for Australia's massive, proven capacity as a global climate sink, and the probability of catastrophic bushfires that can arise from mismanaging that asset: Government cannot ignore basic carbon accounting if it wants to combat climate change



Natural Resource Governance Institute states:
National oil companies (NOCs) produce approximately 55 percent of the world’s oil and gas, pumping out an estimated 85 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. The World Bank has estimated that they control up to 90 percent of global oil and gas reserves, thereby serving as gatekeepers for international oil companies’ access to hydrocarbons. 


The statement is not hard to understand given that most of the Top 10 oil producers in the world are national oil companies.


1) Saudi Aramco – 10,963,091bbl/day

The Saudi Arabian Oil Company, better known as Saudi Aramco, is the world leader in oil production with a production rate of over 10 million barrels of oil per day (mbbl/day).
The company has the world’s second-largest proven crude oil reserves with 261.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BBOe), which accounts for about 10% of the world’s crude oil supply.
Saudi Aramco is also one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world, with a net income of $111.1bn in 2018.

2) Rosneft – 42,17,780bbl/day

Russian integrated energy company Rosneft is the second-largest producer of oil in the world, as well as the world’s largest publicly-traded petroleum company, with a production rate of over 4.2mbbl/day.
The company’s proven hydrocarbon resources are around 41BBOe, with a number of exploration operations increasing Rosneft’s resources in recent years.
Rosneft is the third-largest company in Russia, and accounts for over 40% of Russia’s crude and condensate production. These production levels are expected to continue through to 2021, bolstered by a number of discoveries and projects launched in 2018.

3) KPC – 3,412,203bbl/day

The state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) is the third-largest producer of oil in the world, with a production rate of over 3.4mbbl/day.
The company produces approximately 7% of the world’s total crude oil, with proven reserves of about 111BBOe.
At the end of 2018, KPC announced an investment plan worth approximately $115bn, as part of its intention to increase oil production to 4mbbl/day by 2020.

4) NIOC – 3,256,486bbl/day

The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is an important company in the oil and gas market despite US-imposed sanctions on Iran, with a production rate of over 3.2mbbl/day.
While the sanctions placed on Iran due to the country’s nuclear programme have deterred overseas investments in Iranian oil and gas, the NIOC continues to invest in exploration projects to utilise the 200 undeveloped oil and gas fields in the country.

5) CNPC – 2,981,246bbl/day

The state-owned China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) is the largest producer of oil in East Asia, with a production rate of just under 3mbbl/day.
CNPC is also one of the largest oil and gas companies by revenue, with revenues of $326bn The company ranked #4 in Forbes’ Global Fortune 500 from 2017-2019.
The company’s international diversification in recent years has contributed to its influence in the global energy market, even with the ongoing trade dispute between China and the US.

6) ExxonMobil – 2,294,701bbl/day

As a member of “Big Oil,” American energy company ExxonMobil is one of the world’s most influential companies and the largest producer by oil in the US, with a production rate of 2.3mbbl/day.
ExxonMobil is also one the world’s largest companies by revenue, with revenues of $244.3bn.
The company has recently expanded its global portfolio through a number of overseas exploration and production projects, in addition to increased production in the US.

7) Petrobras – 1,987,950bbl/day

Brazilian multinational Petroleo Brasiliero, better known as Petrobras, is the largest producer of oil in South America with a production rate of just under 2mbbl/day.
Petrobras is one of the most influential companies in the oil and gas industry, ranking at #73 in the 2018 Global Fortune 500.
While the company has struggled with corruption scandals and debt woes in recent years, Petrobras has shown signs of recovery and is involved in a number of planned exploration and production projects.

8) ADNOC – 1,973,135bbl/day

With a production rate of just under 2mbbl/day, the UAE’s state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is a significant player in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The company works with overseas contractors and multinationals to expand the UAE’s offshore industry. Recently, this includes initiating exploration bidding rounds for blocks in the UAE and awarding a number of contracts to develop offshore oil and gas in the country.

9) Chevron – 1,830,537bbl/day

American multinational Chevron was one of the “Seven Sisters” that dominated the global oil and gas industry from 1940-1970 and continues to be an influential company in modern markets, with a production rate of 1.8mbbl/day.
In April 2019 Chevron signed a deal to acquire hydrocarbon exploration company Anadarko for $50bn, but this merger deal is likely to be terminated following Occidental Petroleum’s acquisition of Anadarko in May 2019.

10) Pemex – 1,813,360bbl/day

State-owned petroleum company Petroleo Mexicanos, better known as Pemex, is one of the largest companies in Latin America with a production rate of 1.8mbbl/day.
Although Pemex has had problems with debt in recent years, the company has invested in a number of operations over 2018 to mitigate its financial woes and boost its crude output.

Note that Exxon and Chevron rely heavily on good relations with national oil companies in order to access reserves outside the United States.These remain a significant part of their production.

The extent of state involvement and control gets clearer once the the ownership and business of the Top 250 Energy companies as ranked by Platts is analysed.


How a zero emissions policy, indeed any level of "de-carbonisation" of the Australian economy is going to influence of or affect the output of any of the above is hard to understand, unless of course one lives in one of Garnaut's economic models.

The degree of irrelevance is more stark when one considers that Australian policies  are not likely to matter to NOCs in the neighbourhood

1. China

China is the biggest oil producer in the region by a substantial margin, accounting for nearly 4 million barrels of oil per day. It is responsible for almost half of Asia's total production and announced in 2019 that it would increase capital investment in oil production by 20%. China hopes to increase its output by 50% to 6 million barrels per day by 2025 to become more energy independent, as the country imports roughly 10 million barrels per day to meet domestic demand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The biggest oil producers in Asia are China, India, and Indonesia.
  • China accounts for almost half of the total production in Asia and imports additional oil to meet domestic demand.
  • Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are also among the largest oil producers in Asia.
  • Overall oil production in the Asia Pacific is declining because new discoveries are not enough to offset the lost output from aging oilfields.
  • Demand remains strong, however, with the Asia Pacific consuming 35% of the world's oil production.
The oil industry in China is led by several of the largest energy companies in the world: China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, known as Sinopec; China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC; and PetroChina. These three companies combine to produce more than two-thirds of the country's total annual production.

2. India

India accounts for production of about 2.5 million barrels per day. While production growth has steadied in recent years, oil consumption in India continues to grow by leaps and bounds. India ranks as the third-largest oil importer in the world after U.S. and China.
Oil production in India is dominated by the state-owned enterprise, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, which accounted for roughly 75% of domestic production. Cairn India Limited, the Indian subsidiary of the British oil and gas company, Cairn Energy PLC, is the second-largest contributor to India's oil market.

3. Indonesia

Indonesia comes in behind India with the production of about 835,000 barrels per day. In the 1990s, when production was at a high, Indonesia produced between 1.5 million and 1.7 million barrels per day. Since that period, however, production has followed a nearly unbroken downward trend to the current level. In 2009, the combination of declining production in aging oil fields along with rising domestic demand compelled Indonesia to exit the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which it had been a member since 1962.
PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia, a subsidiary of the American energy giant Chevron Corporation, is Indonesia's biggest oil producer, accounting for an estimated 40% of production, while Indonesia's state-owned energy company, PT Pertamina, is responsible for an additional 25%. Foreign oil companies including Total SA, ConocoPhillips, and CNOOC are also significant producers in the region.

4. Malaysia

Malaysia produces about 661,000 barrels of oil per day, most of which is extracted from offshore fields. Over the course of more than two decades since 1991, production in the country fluctuated between 650,000 and 850,000 barrels per day. According to the Energy Information Association, the recent downward production trends can be attributed largely to declining output at aging oil fields. The Malaysian government is responding by encouraging investment in recovery technology and new field development.
Petroliam Nasional Berhad, also known as Petronas, is Malaysia's state-owned energy corporation. It controls all oil and gas resources in the country and is responsible for development of those assets. International integrated oil and gas companies, such as Exxon Mobil Corporation, Murphy Oil Corporation, and Royal Dutch Shell PLC, are involved with Petronas in oil production activities in Malaysia, including partnerships in enhanced oil recovery projects at aging oil fields.

5. Vietnam

Vietnam has maintained oil production volumes between 300,000 and 400,000 barrels per day since 2000 and daily production in 2018 amounted to just over 300,000 barrels. In 2011, offshore exploration and drilling activities raised Vietnam's proven oil reserves from 600 million barrels to 4.4 billion barrels, rocketing it into third place in Asia after China and India. Industry analysts expect further discoveries as exploration of Vietnam's offshore waters continues.

80.5 Million

The number of barrels of oil produced each day globally.
Vietnam's state-owned oil and gas company, PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation, is involved in all oil production in Vietnam via its production subsidiary, PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation, and its joint ventures with international oil companies. Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and the Russian company, Zarubezhneft OAO, are several of the largest international producers operating in Vietnam.

6. Thailand

Oil production in Thailand has been steady around 250,000 barrels daily for the past decade. However, when it began oil production in 1980, the country generated only 1,300 barrels per day. Despite this growth, Thailand must import large quantities of oil to meet domestic demand.
Chevron is the main oil producer in Thailand. It operates Thailand's largest oil field, Benjamas, and has investments in many other important production sites in the country. Thailand's state-owned oil company, PTT Exploration and Production, is the country's second-largest oil producer. Other international companies involved in oil production in Thailand include Coastal Energy Company and Salamander Energy PLC.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Najib admits in court that he knew where KWAP-SRC money had been sent to, but prosecutors seem uninterested : Najib's admission contradicts all earlier statements

by Ganesh Sahathevan




In court on Tuesday 21 January 2020, when under cross-examination by ad hoc DPP Sithambaram Najib Razak said:

Sithambaram: Do you agree that the only achievement by SRC is to park RM3.6 billion in Switzerland?

Najib: Now, as we know.

Sithambaram: Did you not enquire (about this)?

Najib: It was supposed to be in transit for investment.


“I didn’t consent to any of these things. I am not party to all this. 1MDB paid the money as per the joint-venture agreements with the foreign countries... but once the money was paid, I have no control over what they did with the money.


This claim that once  1MDB paid the money to the relevant JV companies Najib and 1MDB had no control over what happened to the money has been a consistent part of the 1MDB story pre 9 May 2018 when the change of government occurred. In the words of Arul Kanda:
Arul Kanda: Swiss probe shows 1MDB could be victim of fraud

Najib ought to have been further questioned about his knowledge of the funds held "in transit for investment", but he was not.
END













backed second RM2b loan to SRC based on 'hope'
Published: 8:34 pm
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NAJIB TRIAL | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak today acknowledged that his cabinet backed a second RM2 billion loan to SRC International Sdn Bhd although the first RM2 billion loan didn't yield results.

This unfolded when Najib was cross-examined by DPP V Sithambaram, primarily about his role in the second government guarantee for Retirement Fund Incorporated's (KWAP) loan to SRC.

Sithambaram: Do you agree that at the time the (second) government guarantee was given, you were personally aware that SRC would not succeed because it had done nothing with the first loan.

Najib: I was hoping it would do better.

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Sithambaram: It had done nothing. How could it do better?

Najib: I was hoping it would do better.

Following this, Najib agreed with the prosecutor that the government had to provide SRC with a short-term loan and grants when the company failed to service KWAP's loan.

V Sithambaram
Sithambaram: Do you agree that the only achievement by SRC is to park RM3.6 billion in Switzerland?

Najib: Now, as we know.

Sithambaram: Did you not enquire (about this)?

Najib: It was supposed to be in transit for investment.

Sithambaram: It cannot be in transit for seven years.

SRC received an RM2 billion loan from KWAP in August 2011. It received another RM2 billion loan in March 2012. Both received government guarantees.

The company was originally a 1MDB subsidiary before it was taken over by Finance Minister Incorporated on Feb 12, 2012. Najib was the finance minister at the time.

In explaining why SRC received a government guarantee even before applying for the second loan from KWAP, Najib said SRC knew they would not get the loan without one.

When Sithambaran pointed out that it was "extraordinary" for cabinet to issue a government guarantee without SRC putting in an application, Najib said there was a memo from Treasury's then secretary-general Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah recommending the guarantee.

The trial resumes tomorrow.

https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/507913




Datuk Seri Najib Razak says 1Malaysia Development Bhd paid the money as per the joint-venture agreements with the foreign countries.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has once again denied playing any role in the alleged embezzlement of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.
In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, he said it would be absurd of him to authorise the use of public funds to acquire luxury items such as diamonds, properties, artwork, yacht and even fund a Hollywood movie, as alleged by the United States' Department of Justice.
“I didn’t consent to any of these things. I am not party to all this. 1MDB paid the money as per the joint-venture agreements with the foreign countries... but once the money was paid, I have no control over what they did with the money.
“In fact, I have never seen the yacht except in pictures subsequently (in the media). I have never seen the paintings. I don’t know what kind of paintings, and certainly, if you were to use 1MDB funds for that, I certainly would have never approved,” he was quoted by the news portal as saying.
Najib, who chaired the 1MDB advisory board, pointed out that he had held similar positions in other organisations but did not faced such problems.
“I have been in public service for so long and I have a sterling record. And it goes to show, if I was the final authority on all this, I would never have approved this.
“It doesn’t make sense. Why would I as prime minister approve public funds to buy yachts and paintings? It is just crazy.
“It is something which in my wildest dreams, I would never, ever approve or condone,” said Najib, who is also Pekan MP.
In the Malaysiakini interview, Najib said that if the public funds were indeed used to acquire the alleged items, then appropriate action must be taken against those individuals responsible.
“But if that is the case, then I hope a proper investigation will be done and whatever appropriate actions be taken against those responsible if public funds were really used,” he said.
Najib said after 1MDB had run into problems, the company’s main focus had always been on the rationalisation exercise and the negotiations with the foreign countries in question to ensure that Malaysia would not incur any losses.


Did the Law Council Australia and the NSW LPAB ignore ASIO advice in granting Zhu Minshen the right to grant LLB degrees, and entree into Australia's legal system?

by Ganesh Sahathevan









AAP reported in November 2019:

Retired ASIO chief Duncan Lewis has accused the Chinese government of using 'insidious' foreign interference operations to 'take over' Australia's political system.
Anyone in political office could be a target, the former spy chief told the political journal Quarterly Essay in an interview to be published next week.
Mr Lewis claimed Chinese authorities were trying to 'place themselves in a position of advantage' by in political, social, business and media circles, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday, citing the interview.

Despite that warning, the NSW LPAB renewed Zhu Minshen's  right to grant LLB degrees, and entree into Australia's legal system:



In fact, questions about Zhu Minshen were raised by the former Commonwealth Attorney General George Brandis as early as 2016:



Former AG George Brandis raised questions about Zhu Minshen and Top Education Group which remain unanswered, but Zhu and Top are today even more entrenched in the NSW and Australian legal system, thanks to the NSW LPAB and its chairman the CJ NSW, and the AG NSW


Despite all of the above, the Law Council Australia as well as NSW LPAB seem determined to continue supporting Zhu and Top Group:


Zhu Minshen's new Chinese website says the Law Council of Australia "officially approved" Top Education Instituter's application to issue law degrees


The NSW LPAB and Law Council Australia may  attempt  to deflect questions about all of the above by asserting that they are not required by law to seek the advice of ASIO when determining who may or many not grant law degrees in Australia. If they did, and even if the answer is legally correct, it would demonstrate poor judgment; entree into the legal system is always a matter of national security:

“....perhaps the only accredited degree program in Australia that counts agitating for a foreign power towards its qualifications": Why the Law Soc Australia & NSW LPAB's business with Zhu Minshen is a matter of national security


END 



















Retiring ASIO boss issues a chilling warning that China seeks to 'take over' Australia

  • Retired ASIO boss Duncan Lewis has warned of Chinese takeover of Australia
  • Mr Lewis has claimed Chinese authorities wanted to be in 'position of advantage'
  • His comments come after Liberal MPs were denied visas to travel to China 
Retired ASIO chief Duncan Lewis has accused the Chinese government of using 'insidious' foreign interference operations to 'take over' Australia's political system.
Anyone in political office could be a target, the former spy chief told the political journal Quarterly Essay in an interview to be published next week.
Mr Lewis claimed Chinese authorities were trying to 'place themselves in a position of advantage' by in political, social, business and media circles, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday, citing the interview.
'Espionage and foreign interference is insidious. Its effects might not present for decades and by that time it's too late,' he said.
'You wake up one day and find decisions made in our country that are not in the interests of our country.'
In the interview, Mr Lewis warns covert foreign intrusion into the heart of Australian politics is 'something we need to be very, very careful about'.
His remarks come after Liberal MPs Andrew Hastie and Senator James Paterson were denied visas to travel to China for a study tour after they criticised its human rights recordIn an opinion piece published in The Australian on Thursday, senior Chinese diplomat Wang Xining accused the MPs of having double standards and showing disrespect.
'It is cynical that in a country boasting freedom of speech, different views from another nation are constantly and intentionally obliterated,' Mr Wang wrote.
In the interview, Mr Lewis warns covert foreign intrusion into the heart of Australian politics is 'something we need to be very, very careful about' (pictured is a reeducation centre in Xinjiang province)
In the interview, Mr Lewis warns covert foreign intrusion into the heart of Australian politics is 'something we need to be very, very careful about' (pictured is a reeducation centre in Xinjiang province)

Monday, January 20, 2020

The AirAsia-MAS takeover proposal: Have Khazanah directors breached their fiduciary duties : RM 8 Billion in costs, plus Indian & UK investigations being treated trivially, Khazanah may need to be investigated

by Ganesh Sahathevan

Esha Gupta blasts Air Asia for changing arrival of flight without information Photo: Reuters, Twitter
Esha Gupta blasts Air Asia for changing arrival of flight without information Photo: Reuters, Twitter
Esha Gupta blasts AirAsia for changing arrival of flight without information. Calls them disgusting



If the FocusMalaysia story below is true, Khazanah Malaysia's directors and senior managers will have much explaining to do for they would seem to have breached their fiduciary duties to their shareholder, the Government Of Malaysia.

However, the RM 8 Billion cost to Khazanah is not the only problem

Air Asia faces legal problems in India.The financial and reputaional damage to MAS and the Malaysian Government from any merger into those problems seems to have been ignored.Then there are the British Serious Fraud Office issues:


AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes. ED has pressed charges under PMLA to probe the trail of funds used to create illegal assets. (Bloomberg)
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes. ED has pressed charges under PMLA to probe the trail of funds used to create illegal assets. (Bloomberg)


Khazanah's management insistence on the merger needs investigation.

END 



AirAsia’s takeover of Malaysia Airlines may cost Khazanah over RM8 bil | FocusMalaysia
 | 14 hours ago | 
AirAsia’s takeover of Malaysia Airlines may cost Khazanah over RM8 bil
AIRASIA Group Bhd’s (AAGB) proposed takeover of Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB) will include key exclusions which may take the initial cost to Khazanah Nasional Bhd (which owns all of MAB) to over RM8 bil, documents sighted by FocusM show.
These include an RM5.4 bil financing gap for MAB’s six A380s, the exclusion of an RM2.5 bil sukuk, costs of staff layoffs, and the cost of cancellation of 25 Boeing 737 MAX 8 orders as well as other fleet rationalisation. All these total up to well over RM8 bil that Khazanah will have to bear even if MAB is acquired by AAGB.
The documents showed that last month AAGB chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes pitched to Khazanah managing director Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan a merger between AAGB, its long-haul unit AirAsia X Bhd and MAB (MergedCo).
This MergedCo would be listed on Bursa Malaysia and be a “Malaysian/Asean champion.” These were some of the pull factors that entitled AAGB to be MAB’s strategic partner.
It is also understood that Shahril and the Khazanah management were in favour of the deal but it was shot down by the board. It is believed that the proposal is still making rounds and being considered as the fund needs to decide on a strategic partner for MAB soon.
According to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, there are five proposals. Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali also said Khazanah is still on the lookout for a strategic partner. The fund will need to settle on a name soon.
AAGB’s bid is one among four bids currently on the table and is probably the leading bid, followed by Japan Airlines, the other two being Air France-KLM and Malindo Airways.
But AAGB had the leg up as Khazanah believes the synergy derived from the MergedCo would amount to roughly RM1.4 bil a year, which is sufficient to cover MAB’s operations of RM1 bil a year.
Here are the salient points of Fernandes’ initial proposal to Shahril:
1) AirAsia Group is in the process of consolidation
AAGB, through AirAsia Bhd (AAB or AK), is in “the process of acquiring” AirAsia X Bhd (AAX or D7). This will see both airlines merge into one airline operation, retiring AK and D7 and only using one IATA code AK.
This enlarged group will serve the low-cost market, covering domestic and international segments, from short to long haul. This is also the crucial step in merging with MAB to form the enlarged MergedCo.
2) MH will be retired and placed under AirAsia group
MAB will be placed under Asia Aviation Investment Ltd (AAIL) which is 100% owned by AAGB. The IATA code MH will be changed to MY but will target the “premium segment” for both domestic and international markets.
AK, which is the merged company between AirAsia and AirAsia X, will aim for the low-cost segment for both domestic and international markets.
Further, AirAsia plans to retain the blue colour of the current MH but “with a refreshed, modern image and branding” while its low-cost offerings under AirAsia Group remains with its red and current branding.
3) No golden share
Post-transaction, the Malaysian government or Khazanah should not have any golden shares, or preference shares in MAB. AAGB also is demanding for complete control of management, including the appointment of key senior personnel, including the chief executive officer.
Fernandes wants “minimal government intervention” as MAB will be under the AAGB umbrella. But Khazanah may be allowed to have a seat on the board of the MergedCo.
4) Khazanah to bear staff layoffs and settle RM2.5 bil sukuk
AAGB wants to have full discretion on who to hire and fire from MAB but Khazanah has to execute the rationalisation exercise.
This includes bearing compensation and costs related to the exercise which may involve voluntary separation schemes (VSS) and/or mandatory separation schemes (MSS).
AAGB might retain pilots and cabin crew for future growth but other divisions are subject to “further deliberation.” AAGB will also not take up the RM2.5 bil corporate perpetual sukuk issued in 2012.
5) AAGB is seeking government and Khazanah’s help for clearance from the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC)
Having a MergedCo consisting AAGB, AAX and MAB is expected to trigger anti-competition problems. AAGB is seeking for the proposed transaction to be approved by MyCC. This is done to protect AAGB and its stakeholders’ interests.
6) AAGB will look to cancel, exclude and retire a number of MH planes
Six Airbus A380-800 are to be sold or disposed by Khazanah prior to the merger transaction. The reason is, according to AAGB, the group does not need to use the A380s as part of its operations.
Also, these six Airbuses have yet to be fully paid for by MAB. There is an RM5.4 bil loan financing gap for the six planes. AAGB does not want to bear that either.
AAGB also wants Khazanah to cancel the 25 Boeing 737 MAX 8 orders. This is to streamline planes to ensure that they originate from a single manufacturer, Airbus. Also, AAGB is worried about “current issues associated with the B737 MAX aircraft”, so it doesn’t see the benefits of adding the Boeing fleet into its current Airbus stable.
Khazanah is to bear any penalties arising from the cancellation, prior to the proposed merger.
AAGB will also seek to retire six Airbus A330-200 which are around 10 to 14 years old. These planes, according to AAGB, operate different engines, and ultimately would impact MAB’s turnaround.
7) Firefly to be excluded, MASwings to be sold, Brahim’s to be acquired
There are two options for MAB subsidiary Firefly. First is to exclude the airline entirely from the proposed merger. The second option is to include Firefly as part of the transaction but keep it as a separate company from MH and not as a subsidiary of MH.
Firefly can come under AAGB but be transformed into a business jet arm providing connectivity from Subang Airport, similar to London City Airport.
But AAGB is proposing that the Sabah and Sarawak state governments take over MASwings and for them to operate the Rural Air Services (RAS) routes.
AAGB wants to buy over Brahim’s to streamline in-flight catering operations to ensure cost efficiency and operations. – Jan 20, 2020