Vietnam seeks Qatar support in energy development
VOV.VN - Vietnam expects to receive Qatar’s assistance in energy development for the sake of national energy security, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs in Doha on October 31.
Chinh, who is making a working trip to Doha, said energy is one of the priority areas in bilateral cooperation, a field in which Qatar excels and where Vietnam seeks partnership, and this issue was discussed during October 30 talks and meetings with leaders of Qatar in Doha.
Both sides agreed on the need to negotiate an agreement on this field and assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, who is also President and CEO of QatarEnergy, to discuss specific measures to enhance cooperation.
Chinh requested that Qatar support Vietnam in the energy industry, ensuring a regular and steady supply of energy products such as crude oil, natural gas, and chemicals, particularly LNG, to help secure Vietnam’s electricity supply.
He also urged the Minister to direct QatarEnergy to strengthen investment cooperation in oil and energy with Vietnamese partners, especially with the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), to enhance Vietnam’s energy production independence.
He encouraged cooperation in implementing projects related to oil and gas exploration, processing, offshore wind power, solar energy, and hydrogen.
The Prime Minister shared that Vietnam is amending its Electricity Law and relevant regulations to reduce administrative intervention, increase business autonomy and self-determination, and facilitate foreign investors’ cooperation with domestic partners.
Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, for his part, agreed with Chinh’s proposals, saying these are highly potential areas, particularly in gas-fired power and LNG. He also shared that negotiations with PetroVietnam are underway for various cooperation projects.
The Minister noted that Vietnam is expected to continue achieving high growth rates in Asia, leading to an increased demand for energy. He expressed support for negotiating and signing cooperation agreements with Vietnam in energy and gas, and proposed discussions on a partnership for producing and supplying urea - a product derived from oil and gas.
QatarEnergy is ready to connect businesses for collaboration and investment with Vietnamese partners, he said, adding that he would visit Vietnam to discuss and promote specific cooperation projects.
