Exploration and drilling operations at major gas blocks in Turkmenistan assigned to the Malaysian company Petronas could begin as early as December, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated, according to nst.com.

According to him, this is one of the fastest cases in the industry: typically, one and a half to two years elapse between the signing of the agreement and the start of drilling. The statement was made during "Ministers' Question Time" in the lower house of the Malaysian parliament (Dewan Rakyat) in response to a question from MP Datuk Rosol Wahid regarding the impact of the protracted crisis in the Strait of Hormuz on the country's political and economic stability, as well as measures to mitigate the consequences.

Anwar noted that the development of the Turkmen blocks would place Malaysia among the world's largest holders of gas reserves, calling it "very good news for Malaysia, and especially for Petronas."

According to the Prime Minister, diversifying supply sources remains a key element of the government's energy security strategy—alongside long-term guarantees for the supply of diesel fuel and oil from Russia. He emphasized that the supply of petroleum products in Malaysia remains sufficient for now, and costs are being kept under control thanks to measures discussed the previous day at a meeting of the National Economic Action Council (NEAC).

"Despite the unpredictability of the situation, supplies remain sufficient for the time being, and costs can be kept under control," said Anwar.

He also outlined the government's broader strategy, which includes protecting the population, stabilizing prices, providing additional support to industry and small and medium-sized businesses, and strengthening long-term economic resilience.