Directive No. 06/2003/CT-TTg on Promoting Thrift and Combating Wastefulness of Gasoline and Diesel Oil

 DIRECTIVE

ON ENFORCING ECONOMY AND COMBATING WASTAGE OF GASOLINE AND DIESEL OIL

Gasoline and diesel oil are types of fuel with particular importance to the economy, used in various production and business sectors, state agencies, and daily life of citizens. In recent years, along with economic and social development, the consumption of gasoline and diesel oil in the country has increased rapidly. Almost all products of gasoline and diesel oil serving the socio-economic needs of the country must be imported; each year, the state must allocate a significant amount of foreign currency for importing gasoline and diesel oil to meet and ensure stable supply for the entire society's needs. The world market for gasoline and diesel oil always experiences complex changes, with unstable prices that can easily have negative impacts on maintaining stable economic and social development; practicing economy in the consumption of gasoline and diesel oil in production, business, and daily life is truly a very important issue, directly impacting positively on the implementation of policies and solutions for national economic and social development in the current stage.

To implement Directive No. 29/2001/CT-TTg dated November 30, 2001 of the Prime Minister on promoting the practice of economy and combating wastage, state agencies and production and business enterprises have initially taken many specific measures to economize on the consumption of gasoline and diesel oil. Despite this, the situation of wasteful use of gasoline and diesel oil by some units and agencies, especially those using state budget funds, remains widespread, causing wastage of the budget, reducing production and business efficiency, contributing to environmental pollution. The reasons are that heads of departments, local authorities at all levels have not fully recognized the role and responsibility in implementing economy in the consumption of gasoline and diesel oil, have not firmly implemented solutions in a synchronized, flexible, and timely manner, particularly not setting a good example and complying with regulations on the use of official vehicles, organizing production and business operations, and developing public transportation effectively.

To contribute to saving foreign currency for importing gasoline and diesel oil, addressing wastage in management and use, and enhancing the sense of responsibility of all sectors and levels, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairmen of provincial and municipal People's Committees under the central government, leaders of organizations and units using state budget funds, military and police forces, leaders of economic and social organizations, Chairmen of Boards of Directors, General Directors, and Directors of state-owned enterprises and other enterprises, within their respective authority and responsibility, must strictly organize and implement the policy of practicing economy and combating wastage in the use of gasoline and diesel oil, and regularly inspect and supervise the implementation of this policy.

2. Heads of state agencies and leaders of organizations using state budget funds, economic and social organizations must strengthen management and review the implementation of regulations on the use of official vehicles according to Decision No. 122/1999/QĐ-TTg dated May 10, 1999 of the Prime Minister to practice economy and combat wastage of gasoline and diesel oil in the use of transportation means of state agencies and organizations using state budget funds. Strictly prohibit the use of official vehicles for personal purposes contrary to regulations. For individuals who violate, in addition to being reviewed, they must compensate for the costs of gasoline and vehicle usage incorrectly used. Implement economy when using vehicles for work trips: reduce the number of vehicles, share vehicles when traveling with multiple people, or use public transportation when it is unnecessary to travel alone. Establish economy standards, set economy targets, and stipulate reward and punishment systems for gasoline and vehicle usage. Unit heads must regularly check the implementation and bear responsibility if wastage of gasoline and vehicles occurs in their agency.

Central and local ministries, sectors, and mass organizations must strictly comply with the provisions regarding the organization of grassroots visits, participation in rallies, commemorations, conferences, and receptions of domestic delegations as stipulated in Regulation No. 60/QĐ-TW dated February 11, 2003 of the Politburo; reduce unnecessary meetings and exchanges between organizations and units, activities that are merely formalistic such as groundbreaking ceremonies, inaugurations, and awarding of medals and commendations.

3. Chairmen of Boards of Directors, General Directors, and Directors of state-owned enterprises and enterprises belonging to other economic components must take specific measures to save gasoline and diesel oil, viewing the economy in the consumption of these fuels as part of the restructuring of production and business operations to reduce production costs, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to reducing overall consumption of gasoline and diesel oil. They must establish consumption and economy standards for gasoline and diesel oil in production stages and activities that use these fuels according to current regulations, while strengthening supervision and urging compliance; directors of state-owned enterprises must bear responsibility if wastage of gasoline and diesel oil occurs in their enterprise, especially in the use of gasoline and diesel oil for travel and transactions by staff.

4. Heads of relevant ministries and sectors, Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels must focus on directing the practice of economy in the transport of passengers and the travel of citizens, combining with policies and measures to address traffic congestion and reduce traffic accidents; urgently and resolutely organize the implementation of comprehensive regulations and measures in traffic organization, especially in cities and towns and the national highway system; pay attention and prioritize the implementation of measures to develop public passenger transport, and measures to limit the increase in the number of motorcycles and other motorized personal vehicles.

5. The Ministry of Commerce directs enterprises engaged in gasoline and diesel oil trading to continue implementing cost-saving measures in circulation during gasoline and diesel oil trading according to Decision No. 42/2000/QĐ-TTg dated April 5, 2000 of the Prime Minister; review technical standards and quotas for storage, transportation, circulation, and reserve of gasoline and diesel oil to reduce losses in these stages; direct the supply of gasoline and diesel oil to ensure continuity and regularity, monitor and strictly handle cases of speculative trading in gasoline and diesel oil.

6. Provincial People's Committees under the central government coordinate with the Ministry of Commerce to review the planning for developing retail networks of gasoline and diesel oil outlets and inspect compliance with such plans. Firmly remove gasoline and diesel oil sales points constructed without following the plan, illegally built, or failing to meet current business conditions, especially fire prevention and environmental protection requirements; strictly and promptly handle violations to prevent their prolonged existence.

7. The Ministry of Finance establishes and promulgates annual quotas on cost savings and usage of gasoline and diesel oil, as well as vehicle fuel efficiency under normal conditions for state agencies and organizations using state budget funds; develop usage criteria and limits for special circumstances to be issued when necessary; establish reward and penalty mechanisms for managing gasoline and diesel oil usage.

Heads of agencies and units are responsible for organizing implementation and annually reporting results of gasoline and diesel oil conservation efforts to the Ministry of Finance for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister by the end of December each year.

8. Ministries, sectors, People's Committees at all levels, and mass media shall strengthen propaganda and dissemination to ensure that all sectors, levels, units, and social strata fully understand the purpose, significance, requirements, and policies for implementing thrift and combating waste in general according to Directive No. 29/2001/CT-TTg dated November 30, 2001 of the Prime Minister, and specifically for practicing thrift and combating waste in gasoline and diesel oil usage according to this Directive. Timely reflect implementation situations, commend units and agencies that comply well, criticize units and individuals who do not comply strictly.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under the central government, heads of organizations using state budget funds, Chairmen of Management Boards, General Directors, and Directors of state-owned enterprises are responsible for guiding and organizing the implementation of this Directive.