Skip to main content
Old photograph from the 1890s of a filling station

135 years, A Timeline

From humble beginnings in 1891, we have helped pioneer the Malaysia’s oil and gas industry for 135 years.

1891
Shell commenced operations in Malaysia as “Marcus Samuel & Company” setting up oil storage depots at various Straits Settlements ports.

1910
Shell discovers Malaysia's first oil well on Canada Hill in Miri, Sarawak. “Miri No. 1” was spudded on 10 August, and began producing 83 barrels per day in December. Today, a state monument known as “The Grand Old Lady”.

1914
Shell built Malaysia's first oil refinery in Miri. Shell also laid a submarine pipeline in Miri, an innovation breakthrough for transporting crude to tankers at that time.

1921
First petrol pump installed at Foch Avenue, Kuala Lumpur

1957
The first Shell Traffic Games is held, kicking off over five decades of road safety education among school children.

1960
Orient Explorer, the first mobile drilling rig ever used in Malaysia, arrived in Sarawak and began exploring off Baram Point. This led to the discovery of Sarawak's first offshore field, Baram, in 1963.

1961
The first Single Buoy Mooring is installed offshore Miri.

1963
Shell began operating its refinery in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

1968
Shell’s West Lutong oilfield became Malaysia’s first oil producing offshore field

1971
First oil discovery offshore Sabah at Erb West

1974
PETRONAS incorporated under Petroleum Dev Act

1976
1st 2 PSC’s signed with PETRONAS for offshore Sarawak & Sabah

1983
Malaysia shipped first LNG shipment to Japan, by Malaysia LNG - a partnership among PETRONAS, Shell and Mitsubishi.

1985
Shell launched Helix motor oil in Malaysia

1987
Shell Formula diesel launched in Malaysia

1993
Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis (SMDS) plant commissioned, world’s first commercial gas to liquids plant of its kind. Expertise developed here will eventually be sent to help develop Pearl, the world’s largest GTL plant in Qatar.

2001
Inauguration of Shell shared services in Cyberjaya.

2006
Shell Fuel Economy Formula and Shell V-Power Racing launched in Malaysia. Shell V-Power Racing is Malaysia’s only differentiated fuel product nationwide.

2008
Shell Malaysia Sustainable Development Grant programme launched to accelerate the country’s sustainable development progress

2010
Shell V-Power 97 launched in Malaysia

2010
Shell Malaysia hosted inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia in Sepang

2011
Shell Business Service Centre (SBSC) upgraded to new green office in Cyberjaya; second largest of six global business service centres supporting more than 90 countries.

2012
Gumusut-Kakap, Shell’s first deepwater project in Malaysia, commenced production.

2012
Shell MDS expanded Solid Wax Plant; products marketed in more than 50 countries worldwide.

2013
Shell Malaysia launched Asia Pacific Wells Learning Hub in Miri, Sarawak. It is the first of its kind in Asia Pacific and Shell’s third globally.

2014
Shell Malaysia Safety Awards launched to promote industry-wide safety leadership culture.

2014
Shell Malaysia & PDRM Launch 'Go-to-Safety-Point' at Shell stations nationwide to provide temporary help for emergency victims.

2014
Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus technology launched in Malaysia, based on GTL technology that was developed in SMDS

2015
Shell Malaysia officiated its new offices in Menara Shell, Kuala Lumpur

2015
Malikai Deepwater Project completed record-breaking superlift milestone

2015
Shell Malaysia launched new offices in Plaza Shell, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

2016
Shell debuts #ShellSelamatSampai Road Safety programme for students and community

2017

Shell Lubricants Malaysia, through its market-leading Shell Helix brand of motor oil, teams with Waze to launch Asia’s first accident-prone spots alerts.

2018

Shell Malaysia and Sarawak State Government sign Memorandum of Understanding to explore nature conservation

2018

Shell announces FID on the development of the Gorek, Larak and Bakong fields in the SK408 Production Sharing Contract.

2019

Shell Malaysia becomes the first in Asia Pacific’s retail fuel industry to be awarded the Green Building Index (GBI) Certification.

2019

Shell Malaysia celebrates first oil production from its E6 field production

2020

Shell celebrates first gas production from its Gorek field development

2020

Shell Malaysia wins the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award 2020

2021

Shell Mint Hotel becomes the first petrol station in Malaysia to receive Gold standard certification from GBI (Green Building Index).

2021

Shell opens Malaysia’s first stand-alone deli out of Shell retail stations at the Abdullah Hukum LRT station

2022

Shell and Porsche extend electric vehicle high performance charging network from Malaysia to Thailand

2022

Shell signs new exploration contracts with PETRONAS and commences work on the Gumusut-Kakap Phase 3 development

2022

Shell Malaysia invests in ParkEasy, Malaysia’s smart mobility solution provider

2022

Shell invests in Rosmari-Marjoram in Sarawak and in Phase 4 of the Gumusut-Kakap Geronggong-Jagus East (GKGJE) deepwater development in Sabah.

2022

Shell opens its 1000th retail station in Malaysia

2023

Shell Malaysia Unveils Shell Café

2023

Shell delivers first gas from the Timi platform in Malaysia

2023

Shell launches the Shell App

2024

Shell MDS Malaysia celebrates 30 years in Bintulu

2024

Sarawak Shell Berhad unveils Shell Malaysia Upstream’s new headquarters

2025

Shell Malaysia launches the Shell Recharge App to power smarter and more seamless EV Journeys

2025

Shell delivers first oil from Phase 4 of the Gumusut-Kakap-Geronggong-Jagus East (GKGJE) development

2025

Shell Recharge launches Malaysia’s first East Coast to West Coast Hpc Network for seamless EV travel

More in About us