Vietnam's Dung Quat refinery may delay maintenance to 2021 due to coronavirus

Vietnam's Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co will likely delay maintenance at its Dung Quat refinery, scheduled to begin on June 12, due to the coronavirus pandemic that has led to travel curbs, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. "We have difficulties shipping needed equipment to Vietnam and travel bans will make it difficult for foreign contractors to send their workers to the refinery," one of the sources said, adding the maintenance may be delayed until 2021.

A trader, however, said it might be delayed until the second half of this year. Binh Son declined to comment.

The company said in a statement over the weekend that 35% of the maintenance work would be handled by foreign contractors and 65% by domestic ones. It said in January it had signed deals with seven contractors for the maintenance. "Binh Son is monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and (will) keep updating with the contractors to make appropriate changes to the maintenance plan," the statement said.

The 130,000-barrel-per-day refinery said on Friday it would cut output as domestic demand for refined fuels had fallen 30%-40% since February, adding it may have to cease production "if demand continues to decline". Vietnam has reported 241 coronavirus cases as of late Monday, with no reported deaths, the Ministry of Health said.