At the working session between Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình and authorities of central Quảng Ngãi province. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NGÃI — Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hòa Bình held a working session with authorities of central Quảng Ngãi Province on Tuesday to discuss the national petrochemical refining and energy centre project at the Dung Quất Economic Zone.

The project was approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on December 19, 2023. Previously, on December 5, 2025, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính chaired a meeting of the Government’s standing members to discuss proposed mechanisms and policies to step up the project.

Provincial authorities have recently teamed up with Bình Sơn Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR), along with relevant agencies, to review the needed policies and mechanisms. So far, Quảng Ngãi has suggested that the MoIT lead the effort in finalising the project proposal and submitting it to the proper authorities.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Đỗ Tâm Hiển highlighted the centre’s important role not just for Quảng Ngãi but for Việt Nam overall. The locality has secured sufficient land to maintain momentum and channelled resources into compensation, site clearance, and resettlement, all of which are key steps for the project.

In his speech, Bình stressed the critical need for a strategic investor in the venture. The Vietnam National Industry–Energy Group (Petrovietnam) will serve dual roles as project owner and the lead entity for management, investment attraction, and operations, necessitating tailored mechanisms and policies for the State-owned group.

According to him, the project brings a major opportunity for Quảng Ngãi, given that few locations are selected to host a national-scale centre equipped with integrated ports and offshore oil and gas pipeline linkages to the mainland. Therefore, Quảng Ngãi must seize this opportunity by fully harnessing local and national resources to maximise the centre's potential.

He assigned Quảng Ngãi to work closely with Petrovietnam to review land-use planning and existing projects before groundbreaking. Regarding power planning, which falls under the MoIT's purview, adjustments to the Power Development Plan VIII are required, along with plans to supplement the list of energy projects within the centre. Relevant agencies were also requested to study and propose incentive mechanisms aligned with those already in place for domestic economic and commercial zones. — VNA/VNS