On March 10, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting with the Task Force for Ensuring Energy Security.
Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that the goal set is to resolutely prevent energy shortages in any circumstances and up to this point, we are still controlling the situation.
Regarding the next solutions, the Prime Minister requested to continue to diversify crude oil supply sources; proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam) and relevant agencies to immediately implement the results of the phone call between the Prime Minister and leaders of the Gulf countries recently.
Regarding gasoline and oil imports, the Ministry of Industry and Trade directs key enterprises to proactively seek sources of supply, increase imports, and allocate according to assigned plans to ensure 30% of gasoline and oil demand from import sources; and at the same time ensure reserve levels according to regulations, and develop scenarios to ensure gasoline and oil supply in all situations.
Regarding domestic market management, the Ministry of Finance continues to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to manage gasoline and oil prices according to regulations, ensuring close monitoring of daily gasoline and oil price developments, proactively having timely, flexible, and effective adjustment solutions, overcoming the situation of hoarding goods and price increases...
On this occasion, the Prime Minister called on the people of the whole country to join hands, unite, not panic, not be afraid, be very calm, but also not subjective; not take advantage or disrupt the situation; the whole people raise awareness, unite, unify, together with the Party and State, together overcome difficulties.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to study and amend the method of price management in Decree No. 83/2014/ND-CP on gasoline and oil business, creating proactiveness and flexibility for businesses.
Consider in the direction that the State does not stipulate specific selling prices; replace management with regulations limiting costs and profit norms; specific prices are proactively announced by businesses; it is necessary to control not to arbitrarily increase prices with tools and regulations suitable for the market.
Regarding the solution of the gasoline and oil price stabilization fund and environmental protection tax, the Prime Minister agreed in principle with the proposal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to use the gasoline and oil price stabilization fund, using it to ensure compliance with regulations; apply it immediately on March 10.
In necessary cases, the Ministry of Finance shall base on the regulations in the Government's Working Regulations, to report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision and report to the Government at the nearest meeting. The Ministry of Finance immediately proposes a plan to adjust the environmental protection tax on gasoline and oil items to 0, reporting to the Government on March 12.
Along with that, promote the use of E10 bio-gasoline according to the Government's Resolution; launch a movement to save energy and use green energy, reduce emissions; assign the Ministry of Industry and Trade to be in charge of the script content to soon launch the movement.
The Ministry of Public Security coordinates with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to inspect, control, and handle acts of hoarding goods, price inflation, and market instability; directing local police to create favorable conditions for gasoline and oil transport vehicles to conveniently transport goods into inner-city areas, avoiding localized shortages.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade focuses on researching and implementing the national oil reserve program; developing an energy self-sufficiency strategy for the country; the Ministry of Finance allocates budget for this from contingency funds to ensure national energy security.
