PV GAS completes LNG infrastructure to launch imports in 2022
PV GAS completes LNG infrastructure to launch imports in 2022
The Petrovietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation (PV GAS) is fine tuning its infrastructure with a view to launching the imports and distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG) next year to compensate for declining domestic gas sources and promote the development of the gas/LNG market in Vietnam.
The Thi Vai LNG storage project is expected to go into operation in the third quarter of 2022 |
National energy strategy on LNG
Resolution 55-NQ/TW approved by the Politburo on February 11, 2020 on orientations of Vietnam's national energy development strategy sets out specific goals and solutions for the gas industry. It calls for prioritization of investment in technical infrastructure for LNG import and consumption, development of gas-fired thermal power using domestic LNG sources, and gradually turning gas-fired power into an important source of power supply.
Decision 60/QD-TTg approved by the Prime Minister on January 16, 2017 on the development of Vietnam's gas industry until 2025, with orientation to 2035 called for stronger international cooperation in LNG imports; integration with the gas market in the region and the world; acceleration of warehouse construction and port infrastructure and cooperation projects for LNG production abroad.
With its major role in Vietnam's gas industry, PV GAS has completed the LNG infrastructure system and related tasks in order to begin importing LNG from 2022 with the goal of safe and efficient distribution of all domestic and imported gas and LNG. PV GAS has also built a specific strategy on developing the gas/LNG market, focusing on potential consumers, with gas thermal power plants accounting for over 70 percent and petrochemicals, industrial households, transportation, and urban areas for nearly 30 percent.
PV GAS's LNG terminals will be turned into mixed ports with additional functions |
Synchronizing infrastructure
In its orientation to develop gas industry infrastructure, PV GAS is focusing on the construction of a storage project with capacity of one million tonnes of LNG a year in Thi Vai. So far, the Thi Vai LNG Warehouse project is about 90 percent complete. It is expected to be completed and put into operation in the third quarter of 2022. Other related projects, including a LNG station for tankers in Thi Vai, the LNG Thi Vai-Phu My pipeline are also being implemented.
PV Gas will also invest in infrastructure for importing, storing and distributing LNG nationwide. Each region will have three LNG hubs, including the Thi Vai LNG storage project in the south, Son My LNG storage facility in the central region and storage in the Quang Ninh/Hai Phong/Thanh Hoa region in the north.
PV GAS will develop pipelines to transport LNG to consumers by optimizing the existing infrastructure, with an LNG pipeline to be built connecting the output of Thi Vai LNG storage to the existing PV GAS’ pipeline systems. It will also research and build a pipeline project connecting the southeastern and southwestern region to expand LNG distribution infrastructure to consumers for both regions. PV GAS also plans to build a pipeline and distribution system in the central region to transport LNG from Son My/Ninh Thuan to Ba Ria-Vung Tau, connecting to existing infrastructure in the southeast region. In the northern region, it is also going to build a gas pipeline and distribution system starting from the LNG warehouse in the Quang Ninh/Hai Phong/Thanh Hoa area, utilizing the existing infrastructure of the Ham Rong-Thai Binh gas system to transport and supply gas to customers.
