Aker Solutions today opens a new operation centre in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

The new operation centre, which is located within state-owned base of Petroleum Technical Services Corp (PTSC), will provide strategic and effective support services for Aker Solutions’ onshore and offshore oil and gas customers in the country.

The opening ceremony, held at the new office at Vung Tau today, was jointly officiated by Egil Martinussen, president – Asia Pacific for Aker Solutions’ subsea business area, and Mr Khanh, director, Petro Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city branch.

Aker Solutions’ general manager Surface Products and Services, Crawford Tennant, said the new operation base demonstrated the company’s commitment to provide unparalleled services to its customers, while acting as a nucleus in Vietnam to capture other potential clients.

Tennant said: “Vietnam represents an important market in our overall surface and subsea business.  Our client base has expanded from one in 1996, when we won a contract with Petronas Carigali, to now several big players such as CLJOC, Vietsovpetro (VSP), Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), Trouong Son and BP Vietnam.”

Vung Tau, which is located 125km from Ho Chih Minh city, was chosen as the operation base of Aker Solutions as it is the petroleum centre of Vietnam in which crude oil and gas exploration activities form the basis of the city’s economy.

“Interestingly, Vung Tau, which means ‘anchorage’, also coincides with our intent of establishing long term business relations within this country,” Tennant added.

The operation base, consisting of an office and a 740sqmt warehouse, currently employs a team of six engineers. However, the team is in the process of recruiting several more local engineers to extent greater support services to existing and future customers.

(Aker Solutions Press Release)