Exxon Mobil, PetroVietnam work on joint venture The US group Exxon Mobil and Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) are working on a USD20 billion gas-electricity project in the central province of Quang Ngai.   BP and Exxon Mobil's joint venture in Mexico's Thunder Horse oil field Next month, Exxon Mobil intends to submit project-related documents including gas reserve surveys, site selection and a project implementation plan to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and PetroVietnam. Based on their initial assessments,  Exxon Mobil and PVN are seeking a site covering a total area of around 200ha with 100ha designed to build a 1,500MW power plant. The second phase of the project area will increase the area by 200ha for the construction of a 4,000-5,000MW power plant and a gas processing plant. An official from Quang Ngai Province said that to carry out the project, both Exxon Mobil and PetroVietnam would have to conduct exploratory surveys of the area. Of the four sites being considered by Quang Ngai authorities, the one at the northeast of Dung Quat Oil Refinery is considered as the most suitable so far. Representatives from PetroVietnam, however, have said that more specific data is needed before any decision. PetroVietnam has declined to comment on the work until the official report is released. According to a representative from Dung Quat Economic Zone’s management board, both PetroVietnam and Exxon Mobil have been actively seeking a place for the project. Cao Khoa, Chairman of the Quang Ngai Province People’s Committee confirmed that there was a joint project between Exxon Mobil and PetroVeitnam, adding that they would work with any investors that wanted to work in the province. One economist said that Exxon Mobil is a good fit with PetroVietnam would make a good fit, and they would need around 300 ha of land to make the deal work, the gas coming from off-shore. If PetroVietnam and Exxon Mobil successfully work together it would be the largest gas-electricity complex in the central region.  Tienphong