Dung Quat refinery boosts Jet A-1 production to 144% capacity to meet rising aviation fuel demand

The Dung Quat refinery operator said it had proactively implemented technical solutions to optimize operations, prioritizing maximum Jet A-1 production to ensure a stable supply for the domestic market. The Bình Sơn Refinery and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (BSR), operator of the Dung Quat Refinery, announced Jet A-1 production updates—the backbone of civil aviation and a key factor in safe and efficient flights. BSR said it had actively deployed technical solutions to optimize operations, prioritizing maximum Jet A-1 production to ensure stable domestic supply amid evolving regional dynamics in the Middle East that have driven fluctuations in international crude oil and aviation fuel markets and even raised the risk of local shortages. Currently, BSR is operating the entire plant at a capacity of about 123.5%, with several main process units increasing load beyond design to raise output of high-demand products such as gasoline RON 95, diesel DO, and Jet A-1. In particular, the KTU (Kerosene Treating Unit), the unit that processes kerosene to produce Jet A-1, plays an important role in meeting rising aviation fuel demand. On 1 April 2026, the plant's Board of Directors chaired a meeting with specialized departments, technology licensors and operating and maintenance contractors to evaluate options to increase the KTU unit capacity. The meeting reviewed technology, operation, and safety conditions to prepare for testing to raise capacity from 140% to 144% and move toward 145%. The KTU unit has been operating at 144% since 11:00 on 30 March 2026. Previously, in 2025, this unit operated safely and stably at around 140% capacity, producing 509,042 tons, meeting over 30% of domestic aviation fuel demand (about 1.5 million tons of Jet A-1 per year). Maintaining 144% is regarded as a significant milestone, demonstrating mastery of technology, optimization of operations, and effective coordination among technical, operations, and maintenance teams. Throughout this process, technical indicators have been closely monitored; product quality meets international standards; and safety and environmental requirements are always ensured. Based on these results, the plant has agreed to raise the KTU capacity to 145% as the next step in the capacity optimization roadmap, to maximize equipment utilization and meet growing aviation fuel demand amid volatile global energy markets. To support assessment and operations, technical units prepared full documentation including process flow diagrams (PFDs) and operation snapshot data for the CDU cluster, especially at tower T-1102, as well as the KTU cluster. These data help the Board and experts gain a comprehensive, visual view of technology linkages across units, enabling informed decisions that ensure efficiency and safety. “Operating the KTU at 144% since 30 March 2026 demonstrates the plant's ability to master technology and maintain flexibility in production management. When increasing to 145% from 16:00 on 1 April 2026, the requirement is to tighten operating parameters further to ensure absolute safety, plant stability, and efficiency,” said Cao Tuan Si, Director of NMLD Dung Quat. The proactive boost of KTU capacity is an important step in helping NMLD Dung Quat respond to market volatility, secure fuel supplies, particularly aviation fuel for the economy. This continues to affirm the refinery's role in maintaining national energy security amid current challenges. Dung Quat refinery is Vietnam's first refinery, operational since 2009, with design capacity around 6.5 million tons of crude oil per year. The project has total investment of about $3 billion and currently meets about 30% of domestic fuel demand and frequently operates above design capacity to ensure supply.