Proactively responding to the risk of energy supply disruption
On March 9, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Directive No. 06/CT-BCT on strengthening energy security assurance solutions in the face of the complex developments of the military conflict in the Middle East.
The assessment of the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that the domestic gasoline and oil supply is basically still guaranteed thanks to the output of two domestic refineries along with imports. However, in the context of international geopolitical fluctuations, the import of crude oil and finished gasoline and oil products may face many difficulties due to high prices, increased transportation and insurance costs, and at the same time, some exporting countries tend to limit supply.
Implementing Resolution No. 36/NQ-CP dated March 6, 2026 of the Government on the regular Government Meeting in February 2026, in order to proactively respond to fluctuations in the international energy market, ensure the supply of gasoline and oil to serve the production and business activities of enterprises and the consumption needs of people, the Ministry of Industry and Trade requests localities, management agencies and related enterprises to synchronously implement solutions to ensure national energy security.
Strengthen inspection, prevent supply shortages
According to the Directive, the People's Committees of provinces and cities are required to direct the Department of Industry and Trade to coordinate with key traders and gasoline and oil distributors in the area to develop plans to ensure gasoline and oil supply in all situations.
Localities need to create favorable conditions for businesses in creating sources, transporting and distributing gasoline and oil; and at the same time strengthen inspection, examination, and supervision of gasoline and oil business activities, promptly detect and strictly handle acts of speculation, hoarding goods, smuggling gasoline and oil across borders or violating gasoline and oil business regulations.
The directive also requires not to allow the situation of gasoline retail stores stopping sales without legitimate reasons, causing shortages or fragmentation of local supply in the area.
Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities are assigned the task of closely monitoring the supply and demand of gasoline and oil, supervising the quality, selling price and selling time of gasoline and oil retail stores; and at the same time directing market management forces to strengthen inspection and supervision of compliance with legal regulations in gasoline and oil business.
Businesses must ensure continuous supply to the market
For businesses in the petroleum sector, the Ministry of Industry and Trade requests key petroleum trading traders to strictly implement the minimum total petroleum supply assigned in 2026, and at the same time proactively diversify supply sources from both domestic and imported sources.
Businesses must fully implement regulations on gasoline and oil reserves, ensuring sufficient supply of goods to the distribution system in all situations, and preventing supply disruptions.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade also requests key petroleum producers to maintain stable operation of oil refineries, optimize capacity under permitted technical conditions, and diversify crude oil sources to ensure output supply to the market.
Meanwhile, gasoline and oil distributors must develop plans to create sources and organize a reasonable distribution system, ensuring full and continuous supply to agents and retail stores; strictly prohibit acts of hoarding goods, reducing sales or interrupting sales without legitimate reasons.
Energy corporations and units under the Ministry strengthen coordination
The Ministry of Industry and Trade also requested the Vietnam National Group of Industry - Energy to maintain the stable operation of oil and gas exploration, exploitation and processing facilities; optimize the operating capacity of oil refineries in the permitted technical conditions, and proactively diversify crude oil sources for production.
For Vietnam Electricity Group, the Ministry of Industry and Trade requires building a reasonable national power system operating method to ensure stable electricity supply for the economy.
Meanwhile, Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited and Dong Bac Corporation need to proactively plan for coal mining, storage and supply, and closely monitor the developments of the international coal market to have appropriate management plans.
