On March 26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh worked with the Energy Security Task Force on solutions to the impact of the complex developments of the military conflict in the Middle East.
According to reports and opinions at the meeting, the military conflict situation in the Middle East continues to develop rapidly, complicatedly, and unpredictably, directly affecting global energy supply and prices, including Vietnam.
The task in the coming time, the Prime Minister requests not to let the supply of gasoline and oil be deficient, not to let production and business be congested, not to let instability and social order and safety occur.
The Prime Minister noted that gasoline and oil production and business activities must be healthy, strictly prohibit hoarding goods, inflating prices, speculation, hoarding, disrupting the market, relevant agencies should get involved in combating smuggling across borders, and resolutely handle violations with sufficient deterrence.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade continues to ensure the supply of imported crude oil for the following months.
Direct Petrovietnam and related units to maintain safe and stable operation of oil refineries, optimize capacity, increase processing output, and not export raw materials; direct key traders producing and trading gasoline and oil to ensure gasoline and oil supply for the domestic market.
Accelerate the roadmap for deploying bio-gasoline according to Resolution No. 36/NQ-CP; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to manage gasoline and oil prices flexibly and promptly, closely follow world price developments, ensure compliance with legal regulations, and harmonize interests between the State, businesses and people.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is also requested to urgently work with foreign partners to immediately deploy the construction of a strategic petroleum reserve in Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa), after the Prime Minister's exchange with leaders of other countries over the past time on this content.
The Ministry of Finance continues to urgently propose solutions on taxes and budgets, submit them to competent authorities; closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in managing gasoline and oil prices to closely monitor daily gasoline and oil price developments and in accordance with legal regulations; urgently complete procedures to amend Decree 80 on gasoline and oil business in a streamlined order.
The State Bank of Vietnam directs credit institutions to continue to create conditions on interest rate support, loans, and foreign currency needs for gasoline and oil production and trading enterprises to access capital sources for import, reserve and gasoline and oil business in accordance with legal regulations.
The Ministry of Science and Technology should immediately handle issues related to regulations and standards; research and evaluate plans to adjust technical regulations, including considering the oxygen content in E5/E10 gasoline at an appropriate level, ensuring technical requirements, safety, and environment, avoiding cumbersome procedures.
The Ministry of Construction urgently appraises and approves plans to ensure maritime safety for ports receiving oil tankers with a tonnage larger than the port's design but have reduced tonnage appropriately (especially in Quang Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City), creating conditions for quick reception of imported goods.
Corporations (Petrovietnam, EVN, TKV, Petrolimex), Vietnam Airlines Corporation coordinate with ministries and sectors to proactively handle cargo sources, proactively develop scenarios, production plans, and reserve supply sources.
In the long term, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to coordinate with ministries and agencies to research solutions to soon improve the country's energy self-sufficiency capacity, such as continuing to diversify supply sources and improve energy self-sufficiency.
Research to continue restructuring gasoline and oil business hubs; improve national energy reserve capacity, meeting long-term energy security requirements.
