Japan Firms to Provide Consultancy for Vietnam Port Project

Japan’s Nikken Sekkei Civil Engineering Ltd. and Port and Waterway Engineering Consultants Co. will perform consultancy and produce a detailed plan for Dung Quat II Port in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Ngai. The contract was signed by Vietnam’s Dung Quat Economic Zone Authority (DEZA) and the two Japanese firms on Aug 8. The project will be developed in Dung Quat II Bay, around three kilometers from the coast with a depth of 24 meters, DEZA said, giving no detail about total investment of the project. The port is expected to handle ships of 250,000 DWT-300,000 DWT, the most popular types for carrying crude oil, iron ore and coal. The port will facilitate the development of Dung Quat II heavy industry zone in Dung Quat Economic Zone (EZ). Currently, Dung Quat I Port is able to serve 50,000-DWT ships and most of the space at the economic zone has been handed over to project investors. The planning of Dung Quat II Port is vital to the development of Dung Quat II heavy industry zone, which is key to the expansion of the Dung Quat EZ. DEZA hopes to cooperate with the contractor consortium for a long time to connect with Japanese partners. DEZA also pledged to supply capital and cooperate with the contractors to complete the project as scheduled. Besides, DEZA suggested the contractor follow the general seaport plan approved by the Government and ensure feasibility. The government earlier approved the expansion plan of Dung Quat EZ to 45,000 hectares. Le Van Dung, deputy director of Dung Quat EZ management board, said the seaport system has been a main factor in attracting heavy industry projects into the zone. Expansion of the EZ will only be possible with the completion of Dung Quat II Port, which will double the current Dung Quat I Port in scale. Local and international experts agreed that Dung Quat II Bay is suitable to attract investment for large projects such as oil refinery, heavy equipment factory, plastic plant, steel rolling mill and shipyard. With a scale of around 5,000 hectares, the Dung Quat II zone is expected to attract around $20-$25 billion in investment capital by 2025. (thesaigontimes.vn Aug 9, vov.vn Aug 9)