Proposal to expand PVN’s Decision-aking authority in Oil and Gas exploration and production

The appraisal dossier submitted by the MOIT to the Ministry of Justice includes:

1. Draft submission report to the Government.

2. Draft Government Resolution.

3. Comparative analysis between the provisions of the draft Government Resolution and current regulations, along with justification for the proposed adjustments.

4. Consolidated report addressing and clarifying comments from relevant ministries.

5. Official Letter No. 5680/CNNL-QLHĐ dated July 3, 2025, from PVN regarding the delegation of certain tasks in oil and gas activities to PVN.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), in the context of increasing challenges in oil and gas prospecting, exploration, and production, delegating greater authority to PVN is a reasonable, necessary, and well-founded solution. This mechanism not only enables the Group and its contractors to be more proactive in their operations but also facilitates higher production output, enhances investment efficiency, contributes to economic growth, ensures energy security, and safeguards maritime sovereignty. It is also consistent with the Party’s and the State’s policy of promoting decentralization and delegation of authority.

Previously, PVN had submitted an official request to the MOIT, proposing to be granted approval authority over certain oil and gas activities by the Petroleum Law 2022.

Regulatory assessments indicate that this delegation of authority could shorten the appraisal and approval process by approximately 30–50 days, while granting enterprises greater autonomy in decision-making over technical and specialized matters. As a result, oil and gas discoveries could be more swiftly developed and brought into commercial production, thereby improving the investment efficiency of oil and gas fields and projects.

The legal basis for this proposal is derived from Resolution No. 206/2025/QH15 dated June 24, 2025, of the National Assembly on special mechanisms to address legal obstacles and difficulties. Specifically, Point (c), Clause 1, Article 4 of the Resolution stipulates: “The Government and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly are authorized to issue Resolutions by Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article, during the period in which the laws or Resolutions of the National Assembly have not yet been amended, supplemented, or replaced under the approach specified at Point (b) of this Clause.”

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the Government Resolution is designed as an immediate solution to address pressing issues, enabling PVN to unlock resources, create new growth drivers, increase production output, and contribute to overall economic growth. In contrast, amendments and supplements to the Petroleum Law 2022 are expected to require more time and are anticipated to be implemented in 2026.

The purpose of the Resolution is to facilitate oil and gas activities, minimize implementation obstacles, and thereby help ensure national energy security amid rising demand./.