Workers at PetroVietnam carry out technical checks. Fitch Ratings last month assigned PVN first-time long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) at 'BB' with a positive outlook. — VNA/VNS Photo Ha Thai

Demand for investment capital at the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and its member units for 2018-20 was estimated to reach VND620 trillion (US$26.7 billion), PetroVietnam Securities Inc (PSI) recently announced.

According to Bui Huy Long, deputy general director of PetroVietnam Securities Inc, of the VND620 trillion, loans accounted for more than 30 per cent through traditional credit and bond issuances.

Urgent projects such as Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant, Long Phu 1 Thermal Power Plant, Block B-O Mon Gas Project, Blue Whale Gas Project and Sao Vang – Dai Nguyet Gas Project, would require $4 billion, Long said.

Fitch Ratings last month assigned PVN first-time long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) at 'BB' with a positive outlook.

This was a positive credit rating that would help PVN improve its ability to mobilise capital in the international market and diversify capital sources for investment projects in the context of restrictions for loans guaranteed by the Government.

This showed PVN’s strong financial status and business performance as well as its bright business prospects, instilling confidence in domestic and foreign investors, financial institutions and strategic partners, especially during PVN's restructuring process.

However, despite the increase in foreign investment inflow into Viet Nam, FDI in the oil and gas industry was on the decline, from $2 billion per year previously to only a few hundred million dollars, Long said.

In addition, policies related to the oil and gas industry were tightening, making investors worried, he told the Energy Journey 2019 conference organised by PetroVietnam Securities Inc (PSI) late last month in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Speaking at the conference, economist Vo Tri Thanh said that international organisations had forecasts for the global economy in 2020, which assumed there would be a deceleration for the global economy amid ongoing worldwide uncertainty.

For the energy sector, businesses needed to be ready to response to fluctuating oil prices. OPEC countries had cut production and Iran was under an oil embargo while the world witnessed an oversupply, and the US had become a major exporter thanks to shale oil exploitation, Thanh said.

According to Nguyen Son, chairman of the Viet Nam Securities Depository Centre, bond issuance channel had become an effective way to raise capital on the stock market.

The new provisions in the recently-passed Securities Law would create a healthy development environment for the bond market, he said.

For petroleum enterprises, besides mobilising capital via bank credit, it was necessary to diversify capital sources such as export credit, bond issuance, financial leasing and FDI attraction, Son said. — VNS