PetroVietnam embarks on ethanol projects

Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) said it is working on two ethanol projects, following the start of construction of the first plant in Vietnam’s northern midland province of Phu Tho in June. The projects, each estimated to cost US$80 million, will produce 100,000 tons of ethanol a year and will be built in central Quang Ngai and southern Binh Phuoc provinces. PetroVietnam said that an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Quang Ngai plant is scheduled to be signed in September while the EPC contract for the Binh Phuoc plant in March 2010. (August 7, 2009)