Thailand's PTT delays $20 billion Vietnam refinery and petrochemical complex

By Reuters   June 28, 2016 | 06:04 pm PT
Thailand's PTT delays $20 billion Vietnam refinery and petrochemical complex
Cars stop at a PTT Public Company Limited's gas station in Bangkok, Thailand, January 27, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Thailand's largest energy company PTT Pcl has postponed plans to build a $20 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in Vietnam, it said on Tuesday, citing political changes in the country and uncertainty in global oil markets.

State-controlled PTT has studied the possibility of investing in central Vietnam for more than four years and had aimed to start construction this year in partnership with Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil producer.

The complex, including a 400,000 barrel per day refinery and an olefins and aromatic petrochemical plant with annual output of 5 million tons, would help to meet Vietnam's domestic demand for oil products and boost its exports.

Vietnam completed a leadership transition in April, when parliament approved a 27-member Cabinet charged with reforming an economy that has grown rapidly but remains dogged by public debt and privatization problems.

Chansin Treechuchagron, PTT's Senior Executive Vice President for petrochemicals and refining, said the company will delay the project and review investment at the end of the year.

"As the situation has changed we should also be prudent in terms of Vietnamese investment," Chansin said, adding that PTT would need state endorsement of the project.

The plan is for PTT and Aramco to each own 40 percent of the project in Binh Dinh's Nhon Hoi economic zone, with the Vietnamese government holding the remaining 20 percent.

Related news:

Low-cost carrier VietJet Air ready for take-off in Thailand

Bilateral trade with Thailand expected to reach $20 billion by 2020

Vietnam's $9-billion oil refinery set back by four-month delay

 
 
go to top