Datuk Sazali Hamzah, Senior Vice President and MD/CEO of Petronas Chemical Group and Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), has been appointed to the advisory panel of an international carbon emissions research project.
Hamzah, who is an expert in the oil and gas industry and recently stepped down from volunteering as a member of IChemE’s Board in Malaysia after eight years, has been selected for the C-THRU project’s advisory panel.
C-THRU is a three-year, US$4m international research project which aims to provide the world’s most comprehensive, reliable and transparent account of current and likely future emissions from the petrochemicals sector, as well as deliver foresight on the future interventions and innovation opportunities required to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Alongside the other panel members, Hamzah will provide the project team guidance on the direction and dissemination of the project and its findings, utilizing his expertise which spans 30 years in petroleum refining and petrochemical industry. Starting his career at Malaysia’s leading petrochemicals company in 1990, he progressed from a process engineer into various plant operations and management roles, implementing major projects such as Kertih Condensate Splitter and Aromatics, Melaka Refinery Expansion, COGEN power plant and Base Oil plant.
IChemE, through its Learned Society Committee, is supporting C-THRU and nominated him for the role.
Hamzah said:
“I’m delighted to be put forward by IChemE and accepted by the C-THRU project team to be upon the advisory panel.
“Our world is reliant upon plastic, synthetic textiles and other materials requiring the petrochemicals industry, but it is clear more must be done to reduce the carbon emissions generated. This project brings together many branches of engineering, with chemical and process engineering at the heart of it, using key engineering skills and analysis to determine evidence-based approaches to reduce emissions and make the industry sustainable and compatible with climate change mitigation goals.
“I look forward to bringing my expertise to this international team of highly experienced professionals and playing my part to help shape the future of the petrochemicals industry.”
Dr Jonathan Cullen, C-THRU Principal Investigator and Project Lead, said:
“We’re very excited to have such broad expertise on C-THRU’s international advisory panel to support our ambitious vision. Datuk Sazali’s strong links with IChemE and experience managing petrochemical facilities in Asia will be invaluable for the research team and project goals.”
IChemE Fellows Nilay Shah and Chris Hamlin are also bringing their expertise to the C-THRU project. Shah, Head of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, UK has also been appointed to the international advisory panel, meanwhile, Hamlin, a chemical engineering consultant at HancockHamlin, UK, is an Investigator upon project team.
