Over the past 50 years of establishment and growth (August 22, 1975 – August 22, 2025), Nha Be Petroleum Terminal has affirmed its position as one of the largest petroleum terminals in Vietnam, playing a strategic role in the energy supply chain for the Southern region and exports. Throughout this half-century journey, beyond its business mission, the Terminal has always placed security and safety as the highest priority, considering them the foundation for sustainable development.
Security and Safety – The Key to All Operations
With its strategic location along the Nha Be River, as early as the 1930s the site was chosen for petroleum facilities. Through decades of war, the Terminal became the “fuel hub” for both civilian life and military logistics.
Since taking over the facility in 1975, the Terminal quickly established itself as one of the nation’s key petroleum depots, ensuring supply for the South and for exports. Given petroleum’s status as a strategic commodity with high fire and explosion risks, fire prevention and protection have always been treated as vital, existential tasks.
Occupying nearly 200 hectares, Nha Be Petroleum Terminal has long been a critical site for national energy security. Deeply aware of this, generations of staff have embodied the motto “Safety for survival.” Firefighting, rescue, oil spill response, disaster preparedness, and port security have consistently been emphasized, institutionalized, and ingrained into every worker’s awareness and actions.
Training the Force – Raising Operational Standards
Over the past 50 years, the Terminal has steadily built a strong in-house security, fire prevention & fighting, and rescue force. Training and awareness programs are conducted regularly, fostering self-discipline among employees—where every staff member, regardless of position, is considered a “soldier” in the mission of maintaining safety:
- The in-house Firefighting & Rescue force is fully equipped, systematically trained, and engaged in continuous, realistic drills, including nighttime and multi-scenario exercises.
- Professional competitions such as the “Health & Firefighting Games” and “Defense Sports Festival” have become annual highlights, strengthening staff fitness, spirit, and skills, and ensuring confidence in handling real-life incidents.
- The Terminal regularly coordinates with the Fire Police, Ho Chi Minh City Police, Border Guard, and other functional agencies to ensure swift and effective response in emergencies.
Integrated Coordination – A Strong Protective Shield
Beyond internal measures, Nha Be Petroleum Terminal has established comprehensive coordination mechanisms for security and firefighting with surrounding enterprises and agencies. Joint plans, inter-agency drills, and emergency hotlines have formed a “double shield,” enhancing preparedness and minimizing potential impacts:
- The Terminal has instituted inter-unit cooperation frameworks, conducted joint exercises, and carried out regular reviews to optimize resources.
- Close collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Police, Port Authority, Border Guard, and local authorities ensures absolute safety from the outer perimeter to within the Terminal under all circumstances.
- In particular, the Ho Chi Minh City Mobile Police Force (Target Protection Unit No. 5) maintains a 24/7 armed presence at the Terminal, ready to respond to emergencies, reinforcing a solid security–defense posture.
Advancing in the Digital Era
From its modest early days after the takeover, Nha Be Petroleum Terminal has now embraced modernization, applying technology and digital transformation in security and safety management:
- Integrated Management: Adoption of the QSHE (Quality – Safety – Health – Environment) management system aligned with international standards, professionalizing operations and minimizing risks.
- Digitization & Automation: Effective implementation of SAP-ERP resource management, automatic tank gauging systems, vehicle scheduling software, and smart card-based loading/unloading controls. These ensure transparency and accuracy in the supply chain, strengthen human and vehicle management, and establish rigorous processes that reduce risks, safeguard products, and satisfy partners and customers.
- Smart Security Technologies: Enhancements in infrastructure include surveillance cameras, anti-intrusion fences, high-mast lighting, biometric identification, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for monitoring people and vehicles, enabling faster and more precise handling. Emergency plans are updated regularly to match evolving realities.
These measures not only enhance transparency and precision but also improve operational efficiency, meeting the demands of development in the new era.
Proud Legacy – Strong Future
As it enters a new phase of development, Nha Be Petroleum Terminal continues to aim for higher security management standards, expanded digital applications, and a model of a modern, green, and safe terminal.
With the foundation of 50 years of growth, guided by Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) and Petrolimex Saigon, today’s workforce is determined to uphold tradition, master technology, operate safely and efficiently, and make worthy contributions to the advancement of Vietnam’s petroleum sector and the safeguarding of national energy security.