The largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Vietnam has been inaugurated in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, the Government News has reported.

The Thi Vai LNG terminal has a storage capacity of 180,000 cu m and total investment of VND6.5 trillion ($264.4 million).

It can handle an average of 1 million tons of LNG a year.

PV Gas, a subsidiary of the State-owned PetroVietnam, began construction of the facility in October 2019.

It includes an LNG storage tank, two LNG regasification systems with a maximum capacity of 171 metric tons an hour, an LNG charging station, pipelines, and an automated control center.

With its inauguration, Vietnam has officially secured a place on the global LNG map. It also marks an important step for the country in its energy transition in a green, clean, and sustainable manner.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said the project plays an important role in materializing the orientations of the Party and the government in the national energy development strategy towards green, clean, and sustainable growth.

Vietnam targets raising its total LNG-fired power output to 22,400 MW by the end of this decade, accounting for about 15 per cent of its total power output, according to Deputy Prime Minister Quang.