Revision of Petroleum Law aims at creating smoother legal corridor

The revision of the Petroleum Law is very important to creating a smooth legal corridor for investors and increasing the attractiveness of the investment environment in the field of oil and gas, said Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien while delivering a proposal on the draft amended Petroleum Law at the 15th National Assembly’s ongoing third session on June 3.
Revision of Petroleum Law aims to create smoother legal corridor: Minister
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien. (Photo: VNA)

The Minister said that the law, issued in 1993 and revised and supplemented in 2000 and 2008, has created favourable conditions for the development of the oil and gas sector, ensuring national power security and contributing to safeguarding the national sovereignty in the East Sea.

However, the law has yet to meet the requirements of reality amid many issues arising during oil and gas activities, he said.

The Minister said that the draft revised Petroleum Law comprises 11 chapters and 64 articles, inheriting basic articles of the current one, and ensuring the stability and continuity of signed oil and gas contracts and agreements. It is made to match the current legal system and international conventions that Vietnam has joined and international practices in the oil and gas industry.

Delivering a verification report on the bill, Chairman of the NA Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh said that the bill is suitable with the 2013 Constitution and matches relevant international conventions of which Vietnam is a member.

Thanh said that many members of the committee pointed to the need for detailed impacts of oil and gas activities in midstream and downstream that are not specified in the Petroleum Law.

At the same time, the bill should specify regulations on the implementation of oil and gas in the chain, including exploitation, transportation, and processing, he said.

The official suggested the continuous revision of regulations on the conditions for joining oil and gas bidding activities, as well as rules on the authority of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade over issues related to oil and gas contracts towards the delegation of power to the National Oil and Gas Group.

TIN LIÊN QUAN
Project to help boost agriculture
The 15th National Assembly’s third session
NA debate draft laws on IP, domestic violence, grassroots democracy on May 31
Vietnam NA debate adjustments, supplements to Law on Intellectual Property
NA supervision outcomes over implementation of planning-related policies, laws reported
(Source: VNA)