Decision No. 666/2025/NQ-CP on handling difficulties and obstacles in granting approval rights for certain contents in oil and gas activities

RESOLUTION

PROVISIONS ON HANDLING DIFFICULTIES AND OBSTACLES IN DELEGATING APPROVAL RIGHTS FOR CERTAIN CONTENTS IN OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Oil and Gas Law No. 12/2022/QH15;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 206/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on special mechanisms for handling difficulties and obstacles caused by legal provisions;

Pursuant to the Conclusion of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly in Notification No. 2211/TB-VPQH of the National Assembly's Office regarding the delegation of approval rights to the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group for certain contents in oil and gas activities;

Pursuant to Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Oil and Gas Law;

At the proposal of the Minister of Industry and Trade;

The Government issues this Resolution on handling difficulties and obstacles in delegating approval rights for certain contents in oil and gas activities.

Article 1. This Resolution provides for handling difficulties and obstacles in delegating approval rights for certain contents in oil and gas activities related to Clause 5, Article 45, Clause 5, Article 46, Clause 5, Article 47, Clause 5, Article 48, and Clause 6, Article 50 of the Oil and Gas Law No. 12/2022/QH15 dated November 14, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the Oil and Gas Law 2022); Articles 48, 49, 50, and 51 of Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2023 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Oil and Gas Law (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP).

Article 2. The subjects to which this Resolution applies are Vietnamese and foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in oil and gas activities in Vietnam.

Article 3. Delegation of Approval Rights for Certain Contents in Oil and Gas Activities

The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (hereinafter referred to as PVN) shall perform the tasks and powers of the Ministry of Industry and Trade as prescribed by the Oil and Gas Law 2022 and Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP, ensuring that it does not affect national defense and security for the following contents:

1. Approving the general development plan for oil and gas fields, except for projects developing oil and gas fields on land, projects developing oil and gas fields with integrated facilities and equipment on land and at sea, and approving adjustments to the general development plan for oil and gas fields when changing the development scheme, except for gas projects and projects requiring changes in land use needs for approved oil and gas discoveries.

PVN’s review and approval process shall be carried out according to the procedures established by PVN as stipulated in Clause 7, Article 48 of Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP. PVN shall be responsible for the use of PVN funds in cases where PVN participates in oil and gas contracts as a contractor.

2. Approving adjustments to early production plans for oil and gas fields in the following cases:

a) Adjustments leading to a reduction in total investment costs, regardless of the content of changes in work items and costs of each item;

b) Adjustments leading to an increase in total investment costs under 10%, excluding cases involving additional platforms.

PVN’s review and approval process shall be carried out according to the procedures established by PVN as stipulated in Clause 9, Article 49 of Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP. PVN shall be responsible for the use of PVN funds in cases where PVN participates in oil and gas contracts as a contractor.

3. Approving adjustments to development plans for oil and gas fields in the following cases:

a) Adjustments leading to a reduction in total investment costs, regardless of the content of changes in work items and costs of each item;

b) Adjustments leading to an increase in total investment costs under 10%, excluding cases involving additional platforms.

PVN’s review and approval process shall be carried out according to the procedures established by PVN as stipulated in Clause 8, Article 50 of Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP. PVN shall be responsible for the use of PVN funds in cases where PVN participates in oil and gas contracts as a contractor.

4. Approving adjustments to decommissioning plans for oil and gas facilities in cases where adjustments lead to a decrease or increase in the budget estimate for decommissioning costs in the most recently approved decommissioning plan of the Ministry of Industry and Trade under 20%, regardless of the content of changes.

PVN’s review and approval process shall be carried out according to the procedures established by PVN as stipulated in Clause 6, Article 51 of Decree No. 45/2023/NĐ-CP.

5. Approving resource and reserve reports (initial) for oil and gas fields and discoveries with total in-place oil reserves below 30 million cubic meters, total in-place gas reserves below 30 billion cubic meters, except for resource and reserve reports directly conducted by PVN for oil and gas contracts where PVN is the Operator or the Project Owner.³PVN’s review and approval process shall be carried out according to the procedures established by PVN.³, except for resource reports and oil and gas reserve reports directly carried out by PVN for oil and gas contracts where PVN is the Operator and the Project Owner.

The review and approval by PVN shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures issued by PVN.

Article 3. Responsibilities of PVN and the Ministry of Industry and Trade

1. PVN shall be responsible for reporting to the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the results of approving the contents granted above.

2. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall organize inspections and supervision of PVN in the implementation of the tasks granted above.

Article 4. Responsibilities for Implementation

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairmen of the Board of Members and General Directors of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, Heads of relevant agencies and units shall be responsible for implementing this Resolution.

Article 5. Effective Date

This Resolution shall take effect from the date of signature until February 28, 2027, provided that if the Petroleum Law is amended, supplemented and takes effect before February 28, 2027, it shall apply up to the effective date of the amended and supplemented Petroleum Law.

During the period when the provisions of this Resolution are in effect, if the provisions regarding authority, state management responsibilities, procedures, and formalities in this Resolution differ from those in related legal documents, they shall be implemented according to the provisions of this Resolution.

In case laws, resolutions of the National Assembly, ordinances, and resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly are amended, supplemented, or newly issued after the effective date of this Resolution and contain provisions different from the content of this Resolution, the corresponding provisions in this Resolution shall cease to be effective.