HANOI, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) is planning to form its own fleet of some 15 oil tankers in the coming time to transport crude oil from foreign countries.

    The ships will carry crude oil PetroVietnam pumps in foreign oil fields and imports from other countries to serve the domestic consumption and the future demand of the country's infant petrochemical industry, according to the state-run group on Friday.

    PetroVietnam has joined hands with firms in Venezuela, Malaysia and some other countries to explore and exploit oil fields there, the group said, noting that it exploited 30,000 tons of crude oil abroad last year.

    Vietnam, a crude oil exporter but petroleum product importer currently, will have to import a certain volume of crude oil to serve its first oil refinery under construction and two others in the pipeline.

    The construction of the first oil refinery started in central Quang Ngai province in November 2005. Capitalized at some 2.5 billion U.S. dollars and expected to become operational in late 2008 or early 2009, the Dung Quat refinery with an annual refining capacity of 6.5 million tons of crude oil is of significance in ensuring energy for the country, PetroVietnam said.

    Vietnam is making preparation for the construction of its second oil refinery named Nghi Son in central Thanh Hoa province. The Vietnamese government has recently approved a plan on constructing the third oil refinery with annual processing capacity of at least 7 million tons in southern Ba Ria Vung Tau province.