On November 26, 2024, the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex/Group) organised a training conference on the inspection and receipt/delivery of waterborne petroleum in Vung Tau City. The conference was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation.

The conference was presided over by Mr. Dao Nam Hai, Board of Management member and Director General of Petrolimex; Mr. Nguyen Quang Dung, Deputy Director General; and Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Deputy Director General, along with representatives from the Group's functional departments. The event brought together nearly 250 delegates and trainees, including leaders and staff in charge of professional operations at Petrolimex member units, attending in person, along with 40 locations connected online.

The conference focused on disseminating knowledge and updating participants on Petrolimex's regulations and international practices related to the inspection and receipt/delivery of waterborne petroleum. As part of the training programme, delegates and trainees had the opportunity to visit and learn about the technology systems, storage tanks, and jetties for loading/unloading fuel at the K2 Petroleum Depot - Petrolimex Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

The content was taught by lecturers and experts from Intertek, a global inspection group with over 130 years of history and development. Intertek is a leading group in various inspection fields such as agricultural products, textiles, and petroleum, with more than 44,000 employees, 1,000 offices, and laboratories in over 100 countries worldwide. Intertek Vietnam, established in 1998, currently has a team of over 700 employees, 8 laboratories, and offices in 6 major provinces/cities of Vietnam. Intertek Vietnam is recognised as a leading enterprise with extensive experience, a strong reputation, and a team of professional, highly skilled inspectors providing petroleum inspection services in the Vietnamese market and the region.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Dao Nam Hai, Member of the Board of Management and Director General of Petrolimex, emphasised that Petrolimex's core principle is to always put people at the center, recognising them as the primary resource and driving force behind the company's development. The Group's leadership highly values training activities, updates, and professional knowledge enhancement. Based on the actual situation and requirements, and through this training conference on the inspection and handling of petroleum products by waterway, the Group's functional departments, Corporations/Companies, and trainees are expected to implement the following key points:

First,uphold the supreme authority of the law: Regularly update legal normative documents, processes, and regulations of the Group regarding the handling of waterborne petroleum products, ensuring compliance with conditions and upgrades in the system of technical infrastructure and technological equipment; Disseminate and thoroughly raise awareness of all employees in the Company of management, governance, legal, organisational, and disciplinary issues. This will ensure that the handling of waterborne petroleum products absolutely complies with regulations on security and safety, and maintain the quality and quantity of petroleum products delivered in accordance with current legal regulations and those of the Group.

Second,the Group, along with its Companies and Corporations, must proactively, actively, and boldly renovate and upgrade the technical infrastructure system. This involves applying innovative thinking and creativity in developing technical solutions, management solutions, and comprehensively implementing automation and digital transformation in petroleum product delivery by waterway. Key objectives include ensuring fairness, transparency, and objectivity. Examples include piloting the application of new-generation flow meters (Coriolis) in the handling of waterborne petroleum products and applying Business Intelligence (BI) reporting to management and data analysis. These measures aim to improve the quality of handling waterborne petroleum products, reduce losses, motivate improved production and business efficiency, and enhance employee income.

Third,the handling of waterborne petroleum products must align with the Group's green transition orientation, focusing on specific goals such as minimising petroleum losses, limiting petroleum evaporation, reducing vessel waiting time and offloading time, and using more environmentally friendly fuels (LNG, Green Ethanol, etc.). Core solutions to be researched and applied include vapor recovery solutions during the loading/unloading of waterborne petroleum products, applying pipe compression methods in handling petroleum products, automated leak detection systems in the technological system, and intelligent surveillance camera systems.

Forth,develop criteria, mechanisms for selecting independent inspection organisations based on their capabilities, experience, professional certifications, technical equipment, legal documents, and performance evaluations to enhance the responsibility and role of inspection organisations in petroleum inspection activities; Complete the necessary procedures to designate independent inspection organisations for inspecting the handling of river-based petroleum products; and Establish a management mechanism for inspection activities through on-site supervision and analysis of inspection data.

Fifth, enhance training for employees related to the receipt/delivery, measurement, quality control, and quantity control of petroleum products, as well as relevant laws. Additionally, the Group and Companies and Corporations need to focus on improving the material and spiritual life of employees, including crew members and staff at warehouses/depots.

The training conference on the inspection and receipt/delivery of waterborne petroleum products, held from November 25-28, 2024, not only provided in-depth knowledge and practical professional skills but also demonstrated Petrolimex's commitment to ensuring the security, safety, quality, and quantity of petroleum products. The conference highlighted the Group's efforts to reduce losses, pioneer digital transformation, and drive energy transition in the petroleum industry. It strongly promoted the spirit of responsibility, innovation, and creativity among Petrolimex's employees and workers to achieve accomplishments in celebration of the Group's 70th anniversary, contributing to building the country in "the new era - the era of nation's rise."