The delegates performed the symbolic ceremony of opening the valve to receive the first flow of oil on August 18. — VNA/VNS Photo Đoàn Mạnh Dương

HCM CITY — Việt Nam–Russia joint venture Vietsovpetro on Monday held a ceremony to mark the commercial operation of the Kình Ngư Trắng–Kình Ngư Trắng Nam (KNT–KNTN) oil field.

This contributes to national energy security, while also asserting Việt Nam’s maritime sovereignty through strategic oil and gas cooperation in the Cửu Long and Nam Côn Sơn basins.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn said this was a new milestone for the Việt Nam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), Vietsovpetro, as well as their affiliated companies and partners.

Sơn noted that despite complex global challenges in recent years, Việt Nam had achieved significant progress in economic, social, defence, security and foreign affairs. These included the encouraging results from the energy and petroleum sector, with Petrovietnam at the forefront.

Petrovietnam’s success reflected its joint efforts and determination alongside strong international partnerships, particularly long-term and strategic partners like Zarubezhneft, which formed the joint venture Vietsovpetro, he said.

The deputy PM and foreign minister also praised Petrovietnam’s leadership, management and coordination, as well as the support of ministries, agencies and localities.

He added that this success was not only a technical achievement that marked a new stage in Petrovietnam’s development, but also affirmed the effectiveness and reliability of long-term Việt Nam–Russia cooperation in energy and oil and gas, reflecting the strength of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Speaking about the inaugurating project, the deputy PM and foreign minister said: “Over more than 33 months, they have overcome challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, harsh offshore conditions, and high technical requirements to complete their work on schedule, with more than 6.6 million safe work hours.”

Noting Việt Nam’s strong energy demand, as reflected in its revised Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) and upcoming national projects, Sơn urged Petrovietnam to continuously innovate, adapt flexibly, accelerate digital and green transitions, develop high-quality human resources, and strengthen the pioneering spirit and accountability, especially among its executives and managers.

Highlighting continuous support from the Government to the oil and gas industry, he also requested ministries and localities to support Petrovietnam, its subsidiaries and partners in implementing not only this project but also other major ones in the future, thereby contributing to national energy security and national development in the new era.

On the same day, Sơn also met with Zarubezhneft’s general director Sergei Kudryashov.

At the meeting, he affirmed that oil and energy cooperation continued to be a symbol of the close and effective partnership between Việt Nam and Russia, making positive contributions to each country’s development.

He highlighted the results of more than 40 years of collaboration between Petrovietnam and Zarubezhneft, and expressed hope that both sides would further enhance their partnership, which could expand into new areas such as green and clean energy and offshore wind power, in line with Việt Nam’s PDP8.

Sơn also reiterated the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment in the country based on balanced interests and risk sharing.

During the meeting, Kudryashov informed the Vietnamese deputy PM and foreign minister on the results of cooperation between Petrovietnam and Zarubezhneft, and expressed his wish to see continued support from the Vietnamese Government for the partnership between the two corporations. — VNS