Vietnam announces plan to expand product pipeline network

Anticipating growth in consumption of petroleum products, Vietnam will build a total of 568 kilometers of new pipelines to transport petroleum products by 2020, the Thoi Bao Kinh Te newspaper said.

In the north, 241 kilometres (km.) of pipelines will be laid while in the central region 172-km. of pipelines will connect fuel depots in the coastal areas with Laos. Another 155 kms. of pipelines will connect the Phu Hoa fuel depot in the central city of Quy Nhon with the north Central Highlands fuel depot in Gia Lai province.

Currently, most of Vietnam’s fuel supply is transported by road. Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), the country’s biggest fuel distributor, operates around 482 kms. of product pipelines.

Last year, Vietnam imported an estimated 8.43 million tons of petroleum products, an increase of 14.5% from the previous year, while the Dung Quat oil refinery produced 5.81 million tonnes.