Leaders from the U.S. ethanol industry and Vietnam’s largest petroleum distributor, Petrolimex, have signed a quadripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote the use of fuel ethanol in Vietnam’s transportation fuel mix, reports Ethanol Producer Magazine.
The agreement, signed yesterday in Washington, D.C., highlights ethanol’s economic, environmental, human health, and energy security benefits.
The MOU will support Petrolimex in aligning its business with the Vietnamese government’s recent directive to increase ethanol usage in the country. The directive, issued in December 2024 by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, aims to enhance fuel ethanol adoption by outlining steps for industry and government stakeholders, developing new pricing mechanisms for ethanol-blended gasoline, and considering potential policy actions for expanded ethanol use.
“This agreement marks an important first step in helping Vietnam take full advantage of ethanol’s benefits,” U.S. ethanol industry leaders stated. “It strengthens our economic cooperation and trade while supporting Vietnam’s efforts to build a robust ethanol supply chain and infrastructure.”
Among the U.S. ethanol representatives signing the MOU were Renewable Fuels Association General Counsel and Vice President of Government Affairs Edward S. Hubbard, Jr., U.S. Grains Council Chairwoman Verity Ulibarri, and Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor.
Vietnamese officials attending the ceremony included Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Petrolimex Vice General Director Nguyen Xuan Hung, and Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung. Representatives from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Energy were also present.
