The US$80 million factory, the largest of its kind in the central region, will use advanced technology to churn out 100,000 cubic metres of ethanol per year. It will be fed with cassava mainly supplied by farmers from Quang Ngai province and Central Highland provinces.

The project is expected to be completed in 18 months. Once operational, it will produce low-cost bio-ethanol fuel to partly replace petrol. It will help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, generate jobs, increase farmers’ incomes and boost local economic development.

The project is being invested by the Central Oil and Gas Biofuel Joint Stock Company (PCB) and built by the Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) - a member of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam).

Le Quang Thich, vice chairman of the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee, pledged to create the best possible conditions for the investor and contractor to implement the project, especially issues related to land clearance, compensation, resettlement and security at the construction site.