Utilities of Brunei Darussalam

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The oil and gas sector contributes about 68 per cent of GDP (2011) and the major part of exports. Average daily oil production in 2012 was 158,000 barrels. Estimates of oil and gas reserves are rising with new offshore discoveries. Proven reserves of oil were estimated to be 1.1 billion barrels and of gas 300 billion cubic metres in January 2013.

Brunei meets all of its electricity demands through fossil fuels, with 99 per cent coming from natural gas and the remaining one per cent from diesel (2010). The Governmental Department of Electrical Services (DES) of the Ministry of Energy of the Prime Minister’s Office is the government authority mandated to oversee the operation and development of the electricity sector. The DES also serves as a utility responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across the country.

The oil sector is dominated by Brunei Shell Petroleum, which is a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and the government. The company operates the only oil refinery in the country and for many years was the only oil producer. However in recent years the government has allowed other energy companies to search for oil, including Total, BHP Billiton and Valiant International Petroleum. In 2002, the government established Brunei National Petroleum as a state-owned company for oil exploration. Brunei Liquefied Natural Gas is the sole manufacturer of liquefied natural gas – the company is formed as a joint venture between the government, Mitsubishi and Shell.

 

Water

The government-run Public Works Department supplies 99.9 per cent of potable water to the people of Brunei Darussalam; this includes 0.2 per cent of rural water supply. The Department of Water Services is responsible for overseeing the planning, design and management of the country’s water resources. Approximately 86 per cent of sewage is treated before disposal and 44 per cent of the population is served by the public sewer system.

 

Telecoms

Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru) is the main telecommunications company in Brunei Darussalam and the leading service provider for fixed line, and internet and broadband services. TelBru was initially incorporated in 2002 as a Plc, with the company becaming fully operational in 2006 when state-owned Jabatan Telekom Brunei was corporatised. The shareholders are the Minister for Finance Corporation and the government run Brooketon Sdn Bhd.

The Authority for the Infocommunications Technology Industry of Brunei is the national regulator of the sector, while the Brunei Information Technology Council advises the government on policy matters relating to IT and communications development in Brunei Darussalam.