THANH HÓA — Nghi Sơn Refinery and Petrochemical Limited Liability Company on Wednesday received the Ready For Start Up (RFSU) certificate for its Nghi Sơn Refinery and Petrochemical Complex Project (NSRP project).

The RFSU certificate, together with a satisfactory safety record, is an important milestone for the project given its complexity, even by international standards.

CEO of NSRP, Mr. Turki Alajmi, makes speech at the RFSU certificate signing ceremony. — Photo NSRP

Mr. Turki Alajmi, CEO of the company, said: “We are proud to achieve this critical milestone for the NSRP project today. The project is strategically important to meet the growing domestic demand for refined and petrochemical products driven by rapid industrialisation and modernisation of the country.”

“On this occasion, on behalf of NSRP, I would like to thank all the stakeholders in the NSRP project, including the government of Việt Nam and Thanh Hóa authorities, who have provided the most favourable investment environment for the project. I would also like to thank NSRP’s international lenders who have been very supportive of NSRP by providing funding to the project. I would like to thank our sponsors for their strong support and for providing us with the manpower and world-class experience enabling the success of the NSRP Project,” Mr. Alajmi said.

He was also thankful to EPC Contractor JGCS and its subcontractors for their hardwork to fulfil the requirements of the EPC contract, meeting the strict international standards of the NSRP Project and cooperating with NSRP to achieve the milestone.

“Last but not the least, I am extremely grateful to all the employees of NSRP who have been working hard to achieve this milestone and make the refinery operational to produce fuel for the Vietnamese market”, Mr. Alajmi added.

Representatives sign the RFSU certificate at the ceremony. — Photo NSRP

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Junzo Yamamoto, general manager of NSRP Refinery, said: “I am very excited to be here today after the construction and commissioning of the NSRP project. This is an important milestone with international health and safety standards leading to the smooth operation of the project. The project is now ready for performance tests, after which the operational phase will begin. Following the RFSU, we will try our best to ensure that the start-up and operations of the refinery complex will be safe, smooth and efficient. The first commercial product is expected to be out in May 2018.”

By achieving RFSU, the NSRP Project is one step closer to the goal of achieving energy security for the Government.

The NSRP project is a joint venture sponsored by four internationally reputed corporations including Việt Nam Oil and Gas Group, Kuwait Petroleum Europe B.V. from Kuwait, Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd and Mitsui Chemical, Inc. from Japan.

The NSRP Complex is located in the Nghi Sơn Economic Zone in Hải Yến Commune, Tĩnh Gia District, Thanh Hóa Province. The refinery has a capacity to process 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day imported from Kuwait, equivalent to 10 million tonnes per year. Premium diesel accounts for the highest, followed by regular diesel, RON 92, RON 95, LPG, jet fuel and numerous petrochemical products.

The total estimated cost of the project is US$9 billion, which makes it the largest foreign direct investment in Việt Nam to date. — VNS