BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — The former Royal Customs and Excise Building at the Royal Wharf will be turned into an interactive exhibition hall on Brunei’s oil and gas industry.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has teamed up with Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) companies and Brunei Gas Carriers (BGC) to develop the exhibition hall, after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday.
Slated to be completed later this year, the exhibition hall will showcase Brunei’s role in Asia’s energy industry through longtime clients Japan, South Korea and India.
The exhibition centre aims to provide visitors with an educational experience on the history of Brunei’s petroleum industry through four interactive galleries.
MCYS said the former Royal Customs and Excise Building was chosen as the site of the exhibition centre as it is near the earliest discovery of oil seepage in Brunei — Kampung Kasat across the Brunei River.
The building, which was refurbished into the Art Gallery in 2007, is a historic monument that has contributed to Brunei’s modern development, the ministry said in its statement.
The project is also part of BSJV and BGC’s social investment initiatives to educate and foster interest among youth on the oil and gas industry and its contribution to the economy.
The total amount of investment was not disclosed.
MCYS Permanent Secretary Hjh Nor Ashikin Hj Johari signed the MoU, while Brunei Shell Petroleum Managing Director and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Brunei Agnete Johnsgaard-Lewis represented BSJV companies and BGC.
This story was updated at 10.18am on May 8, 2021