AlwaysFree: Petronas To Pay $8.2-Billion Dividend To Malaysian Government

According to Malaysia’s economic minister, state-owned energy company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) will pay MYR34 billion ($8.2 billion) government dividend in 2020 despite reporting losses in the second quarter. Petronas posted an MYR21 billion loss in the April-June quarter, marking its first quarterly loss in five years as the coronavirus pandemic hurt energy demand and prices. Last year, it paid a government dividend of MYR54 billion. Previously, the company said it was committed to delivering MYR24 billion this year, but it might increase depending on its “affordability.”