On May 21, 2024, a delegation from the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex/Group) conducted an assessment of the oil spill contingency plan of the Western Region Oil Depot, belonging to Petrolimex Can Tho.

The delegation included Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Department of Rescue and Search Operations - Ministry of National Defence, cum Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response, Search and Rescue; Le Dai Thang, Deputy Head of the Department of Resource Control and Marine and Island Environmental Protection under the Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands; and other leading officials from the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response, Search and Rescue.

On the Petrolimex side, the oil spill contingency plan Appraisal Council was led by Nguyen Van Su, Deputy General Director of Petrolimex, and other members of the Appraisal Council appointed according to Decision No 373/PLX-QĐ-TGĐ dated May 6, 2024.

Petrolimex Can Tho was represented by Nguyen Dang Chinh, General Director, and Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Deputy General Director, along with heads of competent departments, and leaders of the Western Region Oil Depot.

The working session also witnessed the attendance of representatives from the consulting company, the Vietnam Environmental Incident Response Center.

In his concluding remarks, Nguyen Van Su, Deputy General Director of Petrolimex, acknowledged that the oil spill contingency plan adhered to the Prime Minister's Decision No 12/2021/QĐ-TTg dated March 24, 2021, on the oil spill response regime. He suggested that Petrolimex Can Tho, in collaboration with the consulting company, incorporate feedback and suggestions from experts and members of the Appraisal Council to finalise the oil spill contingency plan for the Western Region Oil Depot and submit it for approval.

Major General Pham Van Ty expressed appreciation and commendation for the Western Region Oil Depot, and Petrolimex Can Tho in general, for their consistent efforts in ensuring absolute safety in terms of fire prevention and control, environmental protection, occupational safety and health, and security during the storage, handling, and loading/unloading of petroleum products at the depot over the years. He personally inspected the site and provided guidance on implementing the Prime Minister's Decision No 12/2021/QĐ-TTg dated March 24, 2021, on the oil spill response regime.

Following the feedback and guidance received at the working session, Petrolimex Can Tho general director Nguyen Dang Chinh said the company will work with the consulting company to finalize the oil spill contingency plan for the Western Region Oil Depot and submit it for approval as soon as possible. He also pledged to continue leading and strengthening safety measures across all operations, organising drills and training programmes on safety practices.

Some images feature the site visit at the Western Region Oil Depot: