Lesson 1: Foundation for maintaining independence and developing the country

With strategic vision and comprehensive, in-depth leadership; more than 10 years ago, the Party and Government directed the Ministry of National Defense and the Vietnam National Energy Industry Group (Petrovietnam) to research solutions to self-sufficient special fuel sources for national defense. This is a scientific project of special significance, contributing to improving the combat readiness of the armed forces, firmly protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, ensuring stability in people's lives.

Self-sufficiency in special fuel - independence and self-sufficiency in security for the country

On September 21, 2025, at the 50th Anniversary of Petrovietnam , General Secretary To Lam highly appreciated Petrovietnam's role in ensuring national energy security and national defense security through autonomy in research, production and supply of specialized fuels for national defense and security. General Secretary To Lam gave strategic directions and orientations on energy security and national defense security in a turbulent period of the world: "Today's world is rapidly shifting to a green economy, digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI), with unprecedented breakthroughs in technology and governance. Along with opportunities, geopolitical factors, strategic competition, disruption and restructuring of the global energy supply chain are increasingly complex, posing urgent requirements for each country to ensure energy security, economic security and national defense security".

General Secretary To Lam speaks at the 50th anniversary of Petrovietnam's founding

In the period of geopolitical fluctuations and increasing global energy competition, ensuring a source of special fuel for national defense is not only a technical problem but also a strategic step to maintain national sovereignty. To be self-sufficient in special fuel for national defense, a country must have a strategic vision and a desire for self-sufficiency; need a complete energy industry from exploitation to processing; have highly qualified scientists and experts who can master oil refining technology. From there, it is possible to research and convert the production of gasoline and oil for consumer life to the production of special fuel from the reality and available resources of that country. Currently, there are not many countries in the world that can do this.

Regarding the issue of self-sufficiency in special fuels, Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung - Hero of the Armed Forces, former member of the Party Central Committee, Director of the National Defense Academy, said that the successful self-sufficiency in special fuels for national defense demonstrates the spirit of self-reliance, self-strengthening and solidarity of the Vietnamese people. He emphasized that self-sufficiency is an important factor in a war situation; therefore, self-sufficiency in special fuels is a great contribution of BSR to the cause of defending the Fatherland in the context of the current complicated world situation.

Self-sufficiency in special fuel for national defense helps Vietnam improve combat readiness in a volatile world context.

With strategic vision, comprehensive and close leadership of the Party and Government, since 2012, the Ministry of National Defense has early forecasted the situation, raised issues, assigned tasks to Petrovietnam, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company (BSR) in coordination with the Petroleum Department (Ministry of National Defense), Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center to research and produce special fuels for national defense. This is to make the most of domestic resources, replace imported goods, ensure national energy security and save the State budget.

Petrovietnam's commitment to the Party, Government, army and people

Petrovietnam is one of the pillars of the economy, playing an important role in the country's development journey. Dr. Le Manh Hung - Party Secretary, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Petrovietnam proudly shared that the Group has been making important contributions to the country's 5 "An" words, including: energy security; food security; economic security; national defense security and social security. Regarding national defense security, the successful production of special fuel is Petrovietnam's latest contribution to the cause of protecting the Fatherland.

Dr. Le Manh Hung - Party Secretary, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Petrovietnam introduced to General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other Party and State leaders about Petrovietnam's achievements

After receiving the special mission from the Party, the Government and the Ministry of National Defense, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of Petrovietnam immediately mobilized the entire political system to carry out the task in a scientific, methodical and determined manner. As the unit directly implementing the mission, BSR closely coordinated with units under the Ministry of National Defense to assess the technological capacity of Dung Quat Oil Refinery (NMLD) and at the same time research corrective measures. Because the original product range according to the initial design configuration, Dung Quat Refinery would not be able to produce special fuel for national defense. At that time, many engineers and experts of BSR not only performed their daily work but also researched day and night to determine the differences in production technology and regulations of standards for special fuel and civil fuel.

Based on the results of research and trial production, on January 27, 2016, Petrovietnam sent a dispatch to the Prime Minister reporting on the production of special fuels for national defense with the following content: “Technologically, at present, Dung Quat Refinery is fully capable of producing Jet A-1K and DO L-62 products to meet the fuel requirements of the Ministry of National Defense. The research process shows that, because the regular consumption output of the Ministry of National Defense for these two products only accounts for a small proportion of the total output of the Factory, if these two products have to be produced and stored regularly, the cost for a unit of product will increase, most likely higher than the import price. To ensure national defense security and at the same time ensure economic efficiency, Petrovietnam recommends that the Prime Minister consider a combination of import and domestic production. In all cases, Petrovietnam will ensure readiness to produce the above fuels”.

The above document demonstrates the determination of the Party Committee, the Board of Directors of Petrovietnam and BSR in carrying out the political tasks assigned by the Party and the Government. It is a commitment to the Party, the Government, the army and the people to produce special fuels to serve the defense of the Fatherland.

Dung Quat Refinery - the first unit in Vietnam to successfully produce special fuel for national defense

And reality has proven that Petrovietnam and BSR have fulfilled that commitment. When the geopolitical changes in the world became complicated, the import of special fuel for national defense encountered difficulties, and the Ministry of National Defense had to mobilize national reserves for use. In that situation, the Ministry of National Defense sent an official dispatch requesting Petrovietnam and BSR to re-evaluate the effectiveness and quickly proceed with the production of special fuel for the army to carry out defense and security tasks. Upon receiving the task, Petrovietnam and BSR immediately researched, developed a plan to produce and hand over the first batch of special fuel for national defense, contributing to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

The successful production of special fuel for national defense has affirmed the strategic vision of the Party and Government in protecting the Fatherland early and from afar; demonstrating wise leadership in harmoniously combining economic development and national defense and security. At the same time, it strengthens the belief that all difficulties and challenges in science and technology can be overcome with consistent leadership from all levels, along with a high scientific and technical foundation, a creative spirit and aspiration to serve the Fatherland.

... (To be continued)

Thanh Hieu

Source: https://bsr.com.vn/web/bsr/-/bai-1-nen-tang-de-giu-gin-doc-lap-phat-trien-dat-nuoc