Southern Vietnam province backs Thailand SCG’s petrochemical complex changes

Vietnam’s southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau will facilitate Siam Cement Group (SCG) to adjust its Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP) complex project.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau Vice Chairman Nguyen Cong Vinh made the statement at a Tuesday meeting with LSP and requested relevant agencies to collaborate with the investor for the move.

LSP plans to build two ethane storage facilities to serve future activities. Ba Ria-Vung Tau province said the move must comply with the legal framework on oil-gas, chemicals, masterplan, and construction.

The changes must follow the Investment Law 2020 and Decree 31/2021 guiding the law, according to provincial authorities.

SCG Chemicals (SCGC), an arm of SCG, conducted a full complex test run in December 2023. In March 2024, it said the complex had recorded an “unexpected technical difficulty” during the whole complex test run.

LSP began its commercial operation (COD) in September 2024, with an initial production output of 74,000 tons during the trial phase. At full capacity, the complex’s annual output will include 1.4 million tons of polyethylene and polypropylene.

In November 2024, SCG said it would invest an extra $700 million in the $5.2 billion LSP to diversify its production. The group said it will utilize ethane imported from the United States as raw material for the complex. The project can significantly enhance its competitiveness through lower feedstock cost and flexibility and lower carbon emissions.