On the afternoon of November 17th (local time), as part of the official state visit to Kuwait, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation visited the Al-Zour Refinery Complex. This facility is considered one of the largest and most modern refineries in the Middle East, the second-largest in the region, and ranks among the top 10 globally in terms of refining capacity.
The Al-Zour Refinery Complex began its preparatory work in 2015, with construction starting in 2017, and officially commenced commercial operations in late 2022. The project has a total investment of approximately $27 billion, with a design capacity of around 615,000 barrels per day, contributing about 43.5% to Kuwait’s domestic refining capacity. Currently, the Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation manages and operates the complex.
Prime Minister and the Vietnamese delegation visiting the Al-Zour Refinery Complex. Photo: VGP
Spanning an area of approximately 16 square kilometers, the complex includes multiple processing units, an artificial island for product storage (around 5.6 million barrels), and an export terminal system.
Al-Zour Refinery Complex. Photo: VGP
The Al-Zour Refinery Complex is also a symbol of Kuwait’s strategic vision under the “Kuwait Vision 2035” program, transitioning from mere oil extraction to comprehensive development of processing systems, enhancing domestic value, and adhering to advanced environmental standards.
Currently, Kuwait is Vietnam’s largest trading and investment partner among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $7.3 billion.
The $9 Billion Mega Project: A Symbol of Strategic Partnership Between Vietnam and Kuwait
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. Photo: VGP
On the same day, November 17th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. Both leaders agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and discussed extensively the bilateral, regional, and international situation. They agreed on several key directions to strengthen Vietnam-Kuwait relations, making them more robust, comprehensive, and sustainable in the future.
Notably, both leaders affirmed their commitment to closely coordinate in enhancing the efficiency and expanding the operations of the Nghi Son Refinery Project under the principle of “harmonious benefits, shared risks,” viewing it as a symbol of the strategic partnership between the two nations. This project plays a crucial role in ensuring energy security for both countries.
Additionally, Vietnam stands ready to provide petroleum services and high-quality manpower for projects in Kuwait, expanding cooperation into new projects, particularly the construction of a petroleum storage and transshipment facility in Vietnam.
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The Nghi Son Refinery Project is a joint venture between Vietnamese, Kuwaiti, and Japanese companies.
On October 15th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 20th Party Congress of Thanh Hoa Province for the 2025-2030 term and provided updates on the Nghi Son Refinery Project.
The Prime Minister stated that the Nghi Son Refinery Project, located in the Nghi Son Economic Zone, is undergoing financial restructuring, which has been agreed upon by foreign partners. The project currently has loans of several billion USD with high-interest payments. Therefore, the government leader directed relevant agencies to participate in this restructuring.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister requested coordination with Petrovietnam to expedite the construction of Phase 2 of the Nghi Son Refinery Complex. Notably, regarding the project’s input, the Prime Minister mentioned meeting with Kuwaiti representatives to diversify supply sources, which was agreed upon by the Kuwaiti side.
The Nghi Son Refinery Complex has a total investment of $9 billion. Petrovietnam holds a 25.1% stake, Kuwait Petroleum Company holds 35.1%, Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan holds 35.1%, and Japan’s Mitsui Chemicals holds 4.7%.
