$5.4 bln Long Son Petrochemicals Complex eyes full capacity operations this month

The $5.4 billion Long Son Petrochemicals Complex (LSP) in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau targets full capacity operations later this month, CEO Kulachet Dharachandra said Monday.

The $5.4 billion Long Son Petrochemicals Complex (LSP) in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau targets full capacity operations later this month, CEO Kulachet Dharachandra said Monday.

He affirmed the schedule while receiving Pham Viet Thanh, chief of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province Party Committee, at the complex premises ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

LSP, invested in by Thailand’s SCG Chemicals, seeks to play a key role in elevating Vietnam’s petrochemicals and plastics sectors, he said.

Pham Viet Thanh (right), Secretary of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Party Committee, is received by Long Son Petrochemicals Complex CEO Kulachet Dharachandra (fourth left) at the facility, February 5, 2024. Photo courtesy of Ba Ria-Vung Tau newspaper.

Earlier this month, the olefins factory (A1 package) of the facility was given the nod by Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung after successful completion of inspections ahead of official operation.

Construction of the factory began in November 2019 and was completed in December 2023. The 27.8-hectare factory has an annual capacity of 950,000 tons of ethylene, 400,000 tons of propylene and 107,000 tons of 1,3 butadiene.

Other key components of the 464-hectare LSP complex are a polyolefin factory, central utility factory and a port-tank unit.

Thailand's The Siam Cement Group (SCG) began construction of the complex in the fourth quarter of 2018. In November 2022, the project began partial operations. At full capacity, its annual output will include 1.4 million tons of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

In December 2023, the complex started a full trial run, aiming at commercial operations in March 2024.