Capacity is still limited

Quang Ngai has a relatively synchronous transport infrastructure system, basically meeting the needs of attracting investment and socio-economic development, including: National Highway 1; North-South railway system; Da Nang - Quang Ngai expressway; National Highway 24 connecting the Central Highlands provinces and Southern Laos.

Quang Ngai is also located next to Chu Lai Airport and only 120 km north of Da Nang International Airport. Dung Quat deep-water seaport can accommodate ships up to 100,000 DWT, and is an important gateway for domestic and international import and export of goods.

In particular, Dung Quat port is expected to be a modern seaport in the region with berths for ships with a capacity of 10,000 to 50,000 tons and container ships with a capacity of up to 4,000 TEU.

According to the adjusted planning until 2020, with a vision to 2030, Dung Quat port has 14 main wharves included in the planning for investment and construction, aiming to become a large-scale and modern seaport, meeting both large barges and container ships.

However, after many years of investment and operation, Dung Quat now has 8 ports (3 general ports including: Hao Hung, Quang Ngai Petroleum Services Joint Stock Company (PTSC) and Gemadept; 5 specialized ports including: 1 Doosan port, 2 ports of Dung Quat Oil Refinery, a shipyard port and Hoa Phat-Dung Quat port).

Currently, only Hoa Phat - Dung Quat port can receive ships with a capacity of 150 - 200 thousand tons, while other ports can only receive ships with a capacity of 50 - 70 thousand tons. This forces businesses to use seaports outside the province, causing difficulties and increasing transportation costs.

According to Nguyen Phong, Director of the Department of Transport of Quang Ngai province, although it has the advantage of a deep-water seaport, the volume of imported and exported goods through the port is not much, leading to the inability of sea transport and maritime economy to develop rapidly.

Quang Ngai's logistics system can only handle some basic steps and has not yet played the role of an effective center for receiving and distributing goods. The shipping channel infrastructure is still limited, the shipping channel is narrow and the depth is not yet sufficient, requiring regular dredging. The tonnage of ships going to/from the port is increasing, but the shipping channel standards are not suitable for the scale of the wharf, leading to the fact that ship owners and cargo owners rarely choose Dung Quat as a destination.

In the last months of the year, coastal areas and Dung Quat Bay area often have to receive large storms, greatly affecting infrastructure, machinery and equipment, hindering the reception and exploitation of ships during this period.

Find solutions to grow

Leaders of the Quang Ngai Department of Transport said that it is necessary to increase investment in Dung Quat Economic Zone (EZ) to turn it into a key coastal industrial center of the South Central Coast region. Developing a logistics center in the Dung Quat seaport area is also a top priority.

Quang Ngai needs to complete important transport projects to ensure the connection of Dung Quat Economic Zone with major transport routes. At the same time, it is necessary to speed up the implementation of industrial and urban projects and resolve social and environmental issues to attract investors.

One of the strategic solutions is to build a chain of coastal and island urban areas with synchronous, modern, smart infrastructure that is adaptable to climate change. In particular, the Dung Quat - Sa Huynh coastal route needs to be completed to fully exploit the potential of the marine economy.

Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee has proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade soon deploy the establishment of the National Oil Refinery and Energy Center in Dung Quat Economic Zone, as well as support the acceleration of key projects such as upgrading Dung Quat Oil Refinery, Dung Quat Power Plant I, III and calling for investment in other gas-fired power projects.

For the Ministry of Transport, the province proposed to direct the completion of Dung Quat intersection between Da Nang - Quang Ngai expressway and Tri Binh - Dung Quat port road, in order to connect and effectively exploit this route.

In addition, it is necessary to invest in building a North-South railway branch connecting with Dung Quat seaport, creating an important traffic hub with all modes of transport: road, rail and sea.

Quang Ngai is continuing to mobilize resources to build and complete the seaport and logistics infrastructure system. At the same time, the province is also promoting investment in the fields of industrial production and export goods processing to develop the Dung Quat deep-water seaport system and form a container transport route to regional and international ports.

Port operators need to invest more in modern equipment and improve the quality of their professional staff to improve the efficiency of port exploitation and operation. This will contribute to enhancing the position of Dung Quat Port in the region and the country.