16/05/2025

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FRIDAY | MAY 16, 2025

Setel pushes into EV charging, value-added mobility services

moting renewable energy are sparking significant growth and reshaping the local market landscape. Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) senior director of industry development division Faizal Mohd Yusof said as the Asean Chair for 2025, Malaysia is committed to advocating for the interests and developments of the region, particularly in key sectors such as automotives. “These transformations align seamlessly with Miti’s objectives to foster innovation, sustainability and global competitiveness, while sup=- porting Malaysia’s national goals of achieving net-zero carbon targets and advancing environmental, social, and governance principles. “Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship further underscores our readiness to support other member states in their transition towards innovation and sustainability, positioning the region as a global leader in the automotive sector,“ Faizal said at the grand Petronas signs new production sharing contract for gas fields in Turkmenistan PETALING JAYA: National oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), Abu Dhabi-based energy investment com pany XRG, Turkmenistan state enterprise Hazarnebit and the national oil company of Turkmenistan, state concern Turk mennebit, have signed new a production sharing contract (PSC) for the Block 1 gas and condensate fields in Turkmenistan. As part of the transaction, a long-term gas sales agreement was also signed with state concern Turkmengas, the national gas company of Turkmenistan. Under the terms of the PSC, Petronas will hold 57% participating interest as the operator, XRG 38% and Hazarnebit 5%. Located in the Caspian Sea, the Block 1 concession currently produces about 400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. It offers significant long-term potential, with access to over 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas resources and future oppor tunities for production capacity ex pansion, Petronas said in a statement. The collaboration supports Turk menistan’s efforts to ensure energy supply stability and export diversification while delivering sustainable growth and economic value to all parties. Petronas executive vice-president and CEO of upstream Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab said as the first international operator in Turkmenistan’s energy sector close to three decades ago, this mile stone reinforces the company’s presence and signifies its continued expansion in the upstream sector. Petronas has been in Turkmenistan since 1996 and is currently the operator for Block 1 and the gas treatmentplant and onshore gas terminal in Kiyanly.

Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

marketing spend and ensures a better return on investment, he said. “We cannot adopt a one-size fits-all strategy – it’s essential to right-size incentives and allocate spending wisely.” Beyond marketing, Kok noted that Setel also leverages data to manage fraud risk and strengthen the platform’s cybersecurity. “We use data to support fraud pre vention efforts, ensuring that we effectively address fraud risks, cybersecurity threats, and related concerns.” With a vast vehicle-owning population and near-universal smartphone usage, Setel is ideally positioned to shape the future of mobility in Malaysia. Its commit ment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and seamless inte gration of new technologies such as EV charging ensures that Setel remains at the forefront of the country’s digital and automotive transformation. Kok stressed that Setel is not just keeping up with the times – it is driving the change. By supporting both fuel and EV customers and by offering a comprehensive suite of services across thousands of locations, Setel is making everyday mobility simpler and more convenient for Malaysians, he said.

o App operator ventures beyond petrol payments to fuel continued user growth

KUALA LUMPUR: Setel Ventures Sdn Bhd, the company behind the Setel app, is pushing beyond petrol payments into wider digital mobi lity services such as seamless parking experiences and full electric vehicle (EV) charging integration as it targets continued user growth. Chief product and technology officer Kok Chiann ( pic ) said the fuel and mobility app has grown to serve more than nine million users, backed by a net promoter score of 92 and a 4.9-star rating on both Google Play and the App Store. “The plan is to encourage customers to adopt Setel by offering a range of seamless, value-added services beyond just fuelling and, in doing so, driving more traffic to Petronas stations as well. That is essentially the high-level objective,” he told SunBiz in an interview on the sidelines of Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2025 yesterday. Kok said one example of Setel’s expanded offering is its fully automated parking experience at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). “There is no action required from the user – simply drive in and drive out, and the payment is automatically deducted through

purchases, which shows its ability to bridge the transition to electric mobility while retaining its core user base. Setel uses data analytics to cus tomise its marketing efforts based on where a user lives and how they fuel their vehicle, Kok said. “We rely heavily

the app.”

Kok said Setel is also fully integrated with Petronas’ clean energy subsidiary Gentari to allow users to activate and pay for EV chargers directly via the app. “Imagine coming to KLCC as an EV driver, your licence plate is scanned on entry, your parking is tracked, and your car is charged seamlessly, all within Setel.”

on data to drive hyper-local targeting strategies. Customers in different states receive personalised communications and rewards tailored to their location and fuel ling behaviour. “For example, if a user is driving a luxury vehicle, the system recognises them as a higher-value customer, and we may offer a more attractive reward to encourage continued engagement. “Conversely, a motorcycle rider would receive a different, more cost-effective incentive tailored to their profile.” This approach helps optimise

Kok said Setel is strategically positioned at the nexus of mobility and digital convenience, given that over 90% of Malaysian households own a vehicle and 95% have smartphones. “The app is currently integrated across 1,100 Petronas stations, 1,500 convenience outlets and work shops, and over 2.5 million retail touchpoints nationwide. It also supports more than 600 online payment locations and 400 EV charging stations,” he added. Notably, 44% of EV users continue to use Setel for fuel

Miti: RE policies drive Malaysian automotive industry’s transformation PETALING JAYA: The automotive industry is undergoing a major trans formation, fuelled by a global drive towards sustainability and inno vation. In Malaysia, new policies pro opening of Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2025 yesterday. Faizal (second from left) and

He said the show embodies that commitment, showcasing the growing trends of energy transition, electri fication, and digitalisation that are reshaping automotive mobility and logistics. Faizal said Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2025 is more than just an exhibition. It is a dynamic platform that reflects the evolving automotive landscape and Malaysia’s pivotal role in driving regional and global progress. “This year, I am thrilled to witness that Automechanika Kuala Lumpur has expanded significantly to meet market anticipation. The exhibition now spans six halls, up from five last year. With 311 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions, this event facilitates unparalleled business networking opportunities while delivering a vibrant and engaging experience for all. “From business-to-business to business-to-consumer interactions, this exhibition serves as a single platform to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market,“ he said. Faizal noted that Automechanika Kuala Lumpur provides a unique

Messe Frankfurt Exhibition vice president mobility and logistics Michael Johannes (third from right) visiting a booth at Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2025 yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

innovation and sustainability,“ he said. This year’s Automechanika show cases Malaysia’s leadership in driving a sustainable automotive industry. “Let us seize this opportunity to network, innovate and drive progress together,“ Faizal said. Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2025, organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, is on until tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

pressing challenges and oppor tunities in the industry today. Through events such as the Automotive Mobility Solutions Con ference, collision repair training workshops and autoFEST@KL, atten dees can explore new trends in energy transition, new energy applications and alternative renewable energy sources – great ways to uncover insights and strategies that drive

opportunity for international players to capitalise on this emerging market while enabling local companies to learn from global leaders and expand their networks. This synergy between local and international players is critical for fostering sustainable busi nesses that are equipped to thrive in a competitive global landscape. “The show’s focus on automotive mobility solutions addresses the most