The use of latest technology and the discovery of new oil fields have extended the life span of Terengganu’s petroleum industry.

State secretary Mazlan Ngah said nobody could say exactly when the petroleum would run out and for how long the industry could survive in Terengganu.

“In 1974, it was predicted that the petroleum would last up to 25 years but until now it is still going strong as new oil fields are discovered by Petronas.

“We are confident that with latest technology and the discovery of new oil wells, the industry will continue for quite sometime as with the gas reserves,” he told reporters after opening the Terengganu Oil and Gas seminar organised by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Eastern Region Construction Academy and Institute of Petronas Petroleum Technology Institute (Instep) in Kuala Terengganu today.

Mazlan said that many Terengganu people are involved in the petroleum industry based in Kemaman via supply and maintenance that can generate the state’s economy.

On Saturday, Menteri Besar Ahmad Said said the tourism industry is an alternative to replace petroleum as the core economy of Terengganu when petroleum resources run out.

- Bernama