Vietnam to Import 1Mln Tons of LPG in 2008

Vietnam to Import 1Mln Tons of LPG in 2008

Vietnam is forecast to import some one million tons of LPG in 2008, according to a PetroVietnam branch in the southern region of Vietnam.

LPG trading is becoming a lucrative business in Vietnam and the number of LPG retail outlets is mushrooming throughout the country, it said.

According PetroVietnam Gas, Vietnam consumed 15,000 tons of LPG in 1993, and the volume jumped to 50,000 tons in 1995; 320,000 tons in 2000 and 720,000 tons in 2004.

Vietnam currently has over 60 gas-trading firms. However, about 40 firms have officially registered for their canisters and trademarks while others are unregistered with poor safety levels.

Unregistered gas traders have been found illegally filling gas into canisters of well-known firms.

According to the Market Management Bureau of the Ministry of Trade, illegal gas traders or gas of unclear origins caused nearly all gas explosions in 2004 and nearly half in 2005.

Nguyen Si Thang, director of PetroVietnam’s Southern Gas Trading Enterprise, said that Vietnam should have a stricter legal framework on gas trading business to address illegal gas trading.

Investment