The construction of a gas processing plant, part of the Ca Mau Gas-Electricity-Fertiliser Complex, commenced in the southernmost province of Ca Mau on February 7 in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The facility is designed with a capacity of processing 6.2 million cubic meters of natural gas taken from gas fields in the south-western region on a daily basis. It is expected to diversify highly-value oil and gas products in the region, ensure the national energy security, and contribute to the local socio-economic development.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung acknowledged efforts by the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to start construction of the plant and welcome the safe transport of 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the PM3 – Commercial Arrangement Area (PM3-CAA) to the Ca Mau Gas-Electricity-Fertiliser Complex.

He urged the group to work hard for the early operation of the plant, which is expected to generate over 5 trillion VND (238 million USD) in annual production value once completed by the end of 2016.

He also lauded the group for fulfilling the Government targets of oil and gas exploration and exploitation in 2014.

The gas processing plant is part of a project worth over 10 trillion VND (476 million USD), which also includes installing additional pipelines offshore to increase transport capacity of the PM3-Ca Mau gas pipeline network from 5.8 million cubic meters to 6.95 million cubic meters per day, building a storage system of 8,000 tonnes of liquefied gas (LPG) and 3,000 cubic meters of condensate, and a port system serving the export of liquid products at Khanh An industrial park in U Minh district.

With a total investment of nearly 300 million USD, the PM3-Ca Mau gas pipeline currently brings ashore 6.25 million cubic meters a day, a remarkable rise from its initial capacity of 5.47 million cubic meters of gas. It is able to supply sufficient gas for two power plants to generate around 8 billion kWh of electricity and a fertiliser plant produce 800,000 tonnes of products annually.

By 2014, the Ca Mau Gas Company provided over 10.86 billion cubic meters of gas for the power and fertiliser plants to produce over 50 billion kWh of electricity and 2,000 tonnes of fertiliser, respectively accounting for 7 percent and 40 percent of the country’s figures.-VNA