4:18:57 PM | 5/9/2008
Formosa group of Taiwan is seeking approval from Vietnamese authorities to build an oil refinery and an independent power plant in Vung Ang economic zone of central Ha Tinh province, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao.
Hao requested the provincial government of Ha Tinh to carefully consider location of the hoped oil refinery as it is so near to current Nghi Son oil refinery project, the Saigon Liberation newspaper reported.
The official also asked the Taiwanese group to make a detailed report on its financial competence, oil refinery construction and management experience, planned capacity, technology, products, acreage and crude oil sources of the proposed oil refinery.
Formosa’s project to build an 800-MW thermal power plant in the Vung Ang economic zone is not included in the Vietnam’s national electricity development plan between 2006 and 2015, and vision 2025, or plan VI, approved by the Vietnamese government, Hao attributed.
The ministry will consider this project in the process of approving Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN)’s Vung Ang 3 thermal power center that is estimated to have a capacity of 2,400 MW to operate between 2014 and 2015, Hao added.
Vietnam now has to import almost petroleum products due to the lack of major oil refineries. The first Dung Quat is under construction in central Quang Ngai province with expected trial run in December this year and official operation in February 25 of 2009.
The country spent US$9.11 billion importing 9.61 million metric tons of petroleum products in the first eight months this year, up 94.3 per cent on year and 13.7 per cent, respectively, said the General Statistic Office (GSO). (Saigon Liberation)
Vietnamese
