Vietnam’s Nghi Son refinery processes non-Kuwaiti crude for 1st time

Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical LLC (NSRP) said it had completed the reception and processing of a cargo of Das Blend crude, the first non-Kuwaiti crude to be run at the plant.

The cargo, totaling about one million barrels, arrived safely at the refinery's port on December 23, 2025, NSRP said. 

After safety, maritime, and technical inspections, the entire volume was fed into the refinery system and processing was completed on Monday in line with operational standards.

Since entering operation in 2018, the Nghi Son refinery has been designed primarily to process Kuwaiti crude under long-term supply contracts. 

The successful run of an alternative crude demonstrates the plant's technical capability to expand its feedstock slate, particularly during specific operating conditions, NSRP said.

Das Blend is considered a favorable crude for refining, offering high yields of light and middle distillates and producing relatively low residue, according to the company. 

NSRP plans to gradually use alternative crude sources in appropriate volumes, either blended with Kuwaiti crude or with similar medium-grade crudes.

For 2026, NSRP expects to import nearly 12.5 million metric tons of crude oil and supply about nine million metric tons of petroleum products to the domestic market. 

The refinery is currently operating at around 120 percent of its designed capacity to meet domestic demand.

Company executives said the diversification of crude sources is being implemented in a controlled manner and does not affect volumes committed under long-term supply agreements with Kuwait. 

Instead, it is intended to support operational efficiency and stability.

The Nghi Son refinery is a joint venture between partners from Kuwait, Japan, and Vietnam, with total investment of more than US$9 billion. 

Located in the Nghi Son Economic Zone in Thanh Hoa Province, the plant has a designed capacity of about 10 million metric tons of crude oil per year and is one of Vietnam's major suppliers of fuel products.