(VOV) - Construction on the 9 billion USD Nghi Son refinery and petrochemical complex in Thanh Hoa province will begin very soon following the signing of an engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) contract. The contract was signed in Thanh Hoa on Sunday by the Nghi Son Oil Refinery & Petrochemical Ltd. Co. (NSRP) and a consortium of contractors led by Japan’s PGC Corporation. The project is part of the Government’s strategy to meet the demands for petro-chemical products during the national industrialization and modernization. Once completed, the project will mark significant steps towards self-supply of refined oil products and energy. Addressing the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung noted that the project is of paramount importance to socio-economic development in Thanh Hoa and the country in general:“I call on the investors and contractors including the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, 2 Japanese leading companies and Kuwait Petroleum International to fulfill their commitments to ensure the project will be completed on schedule, meeting technical specifications. Companies involved need to realize their commitments”.

PM Dung assured that the government will keep a close watch on the progress of the project to ease difficulties and provide necessary assistance.