On November 7, Dong Nai province leaders had a working session with relevant departments and units on planning the construction of an underground pipeline system to supply fuel to Long Thanh airport.

According to Vietnam Oil Corporation - JSC (PVOIL - the investor of the pipeline), the underground pipeline supplying Jet A-1 fuel from the Go Dau upstream warehouse (Long Thanh district, Dong Nai province) to Long Thanh airport has a total length of more than 21km divided into 9 sections.

Of which, there are 8 sections about 16km long located outside the boundary of Long Thanh airport. The location of the pipeline mostly extends along the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, National Highway 51, T1 road connecting Long Thanh airport, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau railway, Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway.

This line will consist of 2 parallel steel pipes, 0.5m apart, buried 2m deep, with a diameter of over 400mm and a thickness of nearly 13mm. The construction time of the pipeline is about 7 months.

Based on the opinions of central and local agencies, the consulting unit has recently adjusted the route to ensure that the pipeline runs underground independently under the stream bed, not attached to the bridge structure, far from the bridge piers, and does not affect the flow of the existing river. In particular, the pipeline will be located outside the railway safety corridor, minimizing the intersection with the railway.

For routes passing through densely populated areas, to ensure traffic safety and fire prevention, the investor has planned to install pipelines that ensure safety and comply with fire prevention regulations. The adjusted route ensures that it does not affect the land fund and related local planning.

At the meeting, Dong Nai functional units said that the underground pipeline route is basically consistent with land use planning, construction planning, and traffic planning. The investor units assessed the existing power system within the pipeline construction area. Thereby, they developed a plan to ensure that the pipeline implementation process does not affect the electricity supply for daily life and production.

In addition, through comparing the underground pipeline construction planning with the land use planning of Long Thanh district until 2030, on the route there are a number of locations that are being planned for rural residential land and commercial service land.

Therefore, Long Thanh district, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dong Nai province will guide the consulting unit and the Vietnam Oil Corporation (PVOil) to adjust the land use planning to ensure strictness and conformity with all types of planning to facilitate land acquisition and site clearance. The work needs to be completed early this November, to be submitted to the Provincial People's Council for consideration and approval at the meeting at the end of 2024.

Concluding the meeting, Mr. Vo Tan Duc, Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, said that Long Thanh Airport Phase 1 is expected to be put into operation in September 2026. Therefore, the construction of an underground pipeline to supply fuel for airport operations is very urgent and needs to be urgently implemented.

Mr. Duc also requested the Department of Construction to preside over and coordinate with the People's Committee of Long Thanh district to guide the consulting unit to review and adjust the pipeline construction planning to match the general planning of Long An, Tan Hiep, Long Phuoc, Phuoc Thai communes and the detailed planning of Go Dau industrial park.

After the route plan is adjusted to suit the planning types, the Department of Construction will synthesize and advise the Provincial People's Committee to consult with specialized units of the Ministry of Transport and Vietnam Airports Corporation on the implementation policy. These contents must be completed within November 2024.