PETRONAS and Glide partner on transformer oil production

PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) has entered a strategic partnership with local manufacturer Glide Technology Sdn Bhd to produce and distribute a new range of high-performance insulating oils for transformers, branded as PETRONAS Tranol Glide. The collaboration comes amid projections of rising electricity demand and aligns with Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap.

The new insulating oils, available in uninhibited and inhibited variants, are formulated to meet stringent international performance standards. Uninhibited oils contain no oxidation inhibitors and offer a simpler formulation, though they may degrade more quickly under high thermal stress. Inhibited oils, by contrast, include additives that slow oxidation, extending the oil’s lifespan and improving stability—especially in demanding operating conditions. These products are essential to ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of power transformers, which are critical to the national grid and industrial operations.

Khalil Muri, managing director and group chief executive officer at PLI, said the collaboration underscores the company’s industrial capabilities and commitment to supporting the country’s evolving energy landscape. The PETRONAS Tranol Glide range is designed to maintain and enhance the performance of power systems, which is vital to sustaining long-term industrial growth in Malaysia.

Glide Technology, a fully Bumiputera-owned SME based in Shah Alam, will manufacture the Tranol Glide products at its local facility. The company already supplies insulating oils to utility providers and transformer manufacturers across Malaysia.

Dato’ Hj. Muhazli Bin Hj. Muhamad, president of the Glide Group of Companies, described the agreement as a milestone in Glide’s transformation journey. He noted that it affirms Glide’s technical capabilities and strengthens its role in supporting the national energy ecosystem with world-class, locally produced solutions.

Malaysia aims to double its renewable energy capacity to 70% by 2050. With increased demand from industrial expansion and new data centre investments, ensuring the resilience of electrical infrastructure will become increasingly important. The PETRONAS–Glide partnership contributes to this goal by providing domestically manufactured, high-quality transformer oils that reinforce grid stability and equipment longevity.