March 2014 saw KSB AG, Frankenthal, Germany, win a contract to supply 189 process pumps for the new Nghi Son refinery in Vietnam. The location is situated around 200 kilometres south of Hanoi in the Tinh Gia district. The plant under construction is Vietnam's second refinery and is due to enter operation in 2017. The pumps will be used in crude oil distillation and aromatic compounds production.

Depending on the fluid to be handled, the casings will be made of either steel or stainless steel. Impellers, shafts and casing wear rings will be manufactured from corrosion-resistant stainless steels. Together with their 800 kW, 6,600V high-voltage motors, the largest pump sets each weigh in at almost seven tonnes and deliver flow rates of 1,800 cubic metres an hour.

In order to utilise existing steam energy, some pumps will be driven by turbines. For KSB, this order represents an important step in a very promising market. Shipping of the pump sets from the Pegnitz production location in Germany will begin at the start of 2015 and is due to be completed by the end of April 2015.