Petrovietnam Journal

Advancing the production and application of carbon nanotubes (CNT) from Vietnam’s high-CO2 natural gas sources

Manh Hung Le — 2025-04-29

Nanocarbon is considered the fourth-generation materials, gradually replacing applications of third-generation silicon-based materials. With its wide range of applications across various sectors, the nanocarbon material market holds immense potential. In Vietnam alone, preliminary estimates indicate that the nanocarbon market could reach approximately 3,700 tons/year by 2030. Natural gas with high CO2 content represents a highly promising feedstock for synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This is a high-value-added material with wide-ranging applications across multiple fields and is highly suitable for future development by the Vietnam National Industry-Energy Group.
The Petrovietnam/Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) has successfully developed an advanced technology to synthesize CNTs from high-CO2-content gas sources using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method based on the application of thin-film metal catalyst systems. The obtained CNT products, without requiring purification, achieve a purity level of 99.8%. In Vietnam, the Ca Voi Xanh gas field is assessed as a major reserve with compositions lying at a favorable threshold in terms of constituent components and ratios for CNT synthesis.
Potential and suitable applications of CNT materials in Vietnam include their use as additives to create advanced products with superior properties in coatings, lubricants, fertilizers, and plastics. In parallel with completing CNT production technology, research and development of CNT-based applications are necessary and should be initiated soon. Informed by a preliminary analysis of market trends, supply and demand, available resources, and the research and development capabilities of Petrovietnam/VPI, a roadmap for research and development of two product groups is proposed: (i) Nanocarbon materials as raw inputs for other industries; and (ii) Specialized products incorporating nanocarbon materials.

Developing specialized fuels for national defense and security: Technological challenges at Dung Quat Refinery

Manh Hung Le — 2025-04-29

Specialized fuels play a crucial role in national defense and security, requiring high quality and compliance with strict technical standards. As Vietnam aims at self-sufficiency in fuel supply, developing specialized fuel product lines at the Dung Quat Refinery is an urgent priority. However, this process encounters significant technological challenges, from limitations in the initial design of the refinery to strict quality requirements on the final products. The article analyzes the key technological barriers encountered during the initial research phase (2012 - 2014) and introduces some technological solutions that BSR has implemented to master the technology of producing specialized fuels domestically.

Application of graphene solution in epoxy paint systems

Manh Huan Nguyen — 2025-04-29

This study focuses on applying graphene solution to epoxy paint systems to enhance corrosion protection for steel structures. Graphene material is dispersed in xylene solvent to create a solution with high dispersion stability. The graphene solution is added to the two-component epoxy paint system using a stirring method. Test results show that the paint film is resistant to alkali, acid, salt water, and heat. Notably, samples with high graphene content increased impact resistance from 50 to 60 kg.m compared to samples without graphene. The immersion test in 5% NaCl solution (salt spray test) after 2 months showed that samples with graphene exhibited no blistering or rusting, while control samples began to show these signs. Accelerated weathering tests also demonstrated that samples with graphene had better UV resistance with less gloss reduction. When applied to commercial paints, graphene improved film hardness from F, HB, H to 2H and 3H, reduced wear resistance from 5.65% to 2.43%, and increased adhesion strength from 10.2 MPa to 13.5 MPa. Salt spray testing after 816 hours indicated that samples with graphene demonstrated superior anti-corrosion resistance. The product has been registered under the Peraphene trademark and was showcased at the 2024 high-tech exhibition.

IAEA’s recommendations on enhancing the design basic threat (DBT) section in the self-evaluation report for nuclear power plant

Khanh Phuong Le — 2025-04-29

Vietnam has proactively resumed its nuclear power development program as of early 2025, marked by governmental decisions to establish a Steering Committee for the construction of nuclear power plants (NPPs) [1]. The Government has officially designated the Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN) and the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (PVN) as the principal investors for the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 NPP projects, respectively [2].
The development of nuclear power plants entails not only technologically sophisticated and capital-intensive infrastructure, but also necessitates strategic international collaboration, particularly with countries that supply nuclear materials and advanced technologies. To secure such cooperation, a nation pursuing nuclear energy must undergo a comprehensive assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which evaluates compliance with 19 key infrastructure conditions. Among these, nuclear security stands out as a critical criterion, ensuring the protection of nuclear materials and associated infrastructure throughout the lifecycle of the plant - from construction and operation to eventual decommissioning.
In the period of 2012 - 2014, when Vietnam was in the early stage of its nuclear power program, the IAEA assessed that Vietnam needed to incorporate a Design Basis Threat (DBT), a foundational element in developing a robust Physical Protection System (PPS), in the “Mission report on the integrated infrastructure review” (INIR 2012) [3]. To review the areas requiring improvement in line with the recommendations of this report, this article focuses on analyzing the Physical Protection System (PPS) for nuclear power plants, based on the IAEA’s most recent technical guidance on evaluating the status of national nuclear infrastructure development “Evaluation of the status of national nuclear infrastructure development”, IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-T-3.2 (Rev. 2) [4].

Environmental assessment for offshore wind projects in Vietnam: Legal gaps and international experience

Van Ly Cap — 2025-04-29

With a total global installed capacity exceeding 83 GW, offshore wind power plays an increasingly important role in the energy transition. Countries have issued legal regulations and adopted specific international standards to protect environment, conserve ecosystems during the construction and operation of offshore wind projects.
Vietnam is in the process of developing and finalizing the legal framework for the offshore wind industry, however, detailed guidelines for environmental protection in project areas remain lacking. Based on studying the experience of countries with advanced offshore wind development and recommendations from international organizations, the authors propose appropriate environmental assessment criteria and methods to support the development and completion of the legal system for offshore wind power projects in Vietnam.

Legal and regulatory framework for carbon capture, utilization and storage of The Republic of Indonesia

Anh Duc Nguyen — 2025-04-29

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a method for reducing carbon emission that consists of 3 main steps: capturing, compressing and transporting CO2 to locations where it is permanently injected into geological formations such as saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs. Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), meanwhile, takes this further by reusing captured CO2 from industrial processes to produce new products such as concrete or biodiesel. With the goal of reducing CO2 emissions from domestic industries while positioning itself as a regional hub for Southeast Asia, Indonesia has developed a legal framework for CCS/CCUS activities.
Based on a review of Indonesia’s legal framework for CCS/CCUS [1 - 6], this article provides reference information that may support Vietnam in developing its own CCS/CCUS legal and regulatory framework.

Research on application of pyrolysis technology to convert plastic waste into liquid fuel

Minh Quoc Binh Phan — 2025-04-29

Plastic waste pollution has become increasingly severe in Vietnam, particularly in the Southern region, which generates the country’s largest amount of plastic waste. Although the rate of municipal waste collection is high, about 90% in each province, source separation is virtually not implemented. Valuable plastics are informally collected for recycling, while the remainder - comprising predominantly low-quality mixed plastics, accounting for 5 - 8% of waste by weight - ends up in landfills. The research analyzed the status of plastic waste in Vietnam, surveyed the waste plastic flow in southern provinces, and compared existing treatment technologies. Results show that mechanical recycling helps reuse materials but is limited by feedstock quality; meanwhile, pyrolysis and gasification can convert mixed plastics into liquid fuels, olefins, or synthesis gas, providing higher value.
Based on technical and economic criteria, pyrolysis technology was selected for the project due to its high feasibility, low operational risk, and scalability, making it suitable for Vietnam's current conditions. Regarding implementation sites, the research team proposed several centralized waste treatment zones in the Southeast region - areas characterized by abundant waste sources, existing infrastructure, and investment support policies - and discussed the challenges associated with project deployment.

Energy Transition Trends and Three Typical Strategic Models

Hien Trang Ta — 2025-04-29

Bài viết giới thiệu 3 mô hình chính trong chiến lược chuyển dịch năng lượng: (i) Đa dạng hóa danh mục đầu tư - tiêu biểu là Equinor, mở rộng sang năng lượng gió ngoài khơi và công nghệ thu hồi, lưu trữ carbon (CCS); (ii) Tập trung vào lĩnh vực cốt lõi - đại diện là Chevron, ưu tiên giảm phát thải trong hoạt động hiện có và đầu tư có chọn lọc vào công nghệ thu hồi, sử dụng và lưu trữ carbon (CCUS), nhiên liệu tái tạo; (iii) Trụ cột năng lượng quốc gia - điển hình là Petronas, cân bằng giữa mục tiêu đảm bảo an ninh năng lượng và net zero thông qua phát triển các dự án LNG, CCS và hydrogen. Trên cơ sở đó, bài báo đề xuất các giải pháp về giảm phát thải, phát triển năng lượng tái tạo, hydrogen và CCUS, nhằm hỗ trợ quá trình chuyển dịch năng lượng bền vững.