WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- In the mad Western dash for Central Asian energy resources, investors initially focused on Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Following the death of Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov in December 2006, Western energy firms fell over themselves courting Turkmenistan's new president, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Ten years before Niyazov's death, however, Malaysia's Petronas won Turkmenistan's first offshore drilling agreement and began prospecting in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian.

Now Petronas seems set to repeat its success in the one Central Asian country with immense potential that has been largely overlooked in the mad scramble of energy assets -- Uzbekistan. Its success builds on several years of quiet diplomacy. Petronas was set up in 1974 and operates in 30 countries. It has grown steadily over the past three decades; in March 2007, the Financial Times identified Petronas as one of the new "seven sisters," a tribute to its joining the ranks of seven oil companies that dominated mid-20th century oil production, refinement and distribution.

Offering Petronas its opportunity were the tragic events in Andijan, Uzbekistan, on May 13, 2005, when a firefight erupted between Islamic militants who had on the night of May 12 seized weapons and hostages, provoking an armed response by the Uzbek authorities that saw a death toll of less than 200 according to Tashkent, and far higher tolls according to Western human-rights organizations. Relations between Uzbekistan and Western nations went into a deep freeze, producing a situation where Tashkent sought out nonjudgmental governments and investors.

On Oct. 2-4, 2005, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov made a state visit to Malaysia on the invitation of King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. During the visit, Karimov met with the head of Petronas and discussed relations with Uzbekneftegaz and other corporations. They signed a memorandum on cooperation and an agreement on joint exploitation of oil and gas resources. Petronas subsequently signed a memorandum of cooperation with Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Co. for joint cooperation in the oil and gas sector both in Malaysia and Uzbekistan and wrote a joint study agreement with UNG for a technical study to be jointly undertaken by Petronas subsidiary Petronas Carigali Overseas and UNG in Uzbekistan's Baisun Block. Petronas' press office issued a statement, noting, "The MOC and the JSA signal Petronas' commitment to establish a long-term presence in the Uzbek oil and gas sector. More importantly, they signify the move towards greater, mutually beneficial cooperation between the two national oil companies."

The trip built on the momentum of the previous month, when Petronas Carigali Overseas joined a consortium of UNG, CNPC International Ltd., Korea National Oil Corp. and Lukoil Overseas Holding Ltd. to undertake exploration in the Uzbek territorial waters of the Aral Sea.