On the morning of May 19, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung chaired a working session with the Oil, Gas and Coal Department (OGCD) and the Office of the State Steering Committee for national key programs, projects and major works in the energy sector (the Office of the Steering Committee) to review the implementation of tasks in the first four months of 2026 and discuss key orientations and tasks for the remaining months of the year.

The meeting was also attended by leaders of several units under the Ministry.

At the meeting, Nguyen Viet Son, Director of the Oil, Gas and Coal Department, presented a report on the implementation of tasks in the first four months of 2026. Regarding the development of legal normative documents, in 2026 the OGCD was assigned to take the lead in drafting the revised Petroleum Law, which is scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly at its second session in October 2026 and to the Government in May 2026.

As of May 8, 2026, the OGCD had submitted Official Dispatch No. 3230/BCT-DKT to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal of the dossier for the revised Petroleum Law project and Submission No. 3231/TTr-BCT to the Government regarding the project dossier, ensuring the proposed timeline. The Ministry of Justice is expected to organize an appraisal meeting for the revised Petroleum Law project on May 20, 2026.

In addition, in implementing the 2023 Law on Prices, the OGCD is coordinating with the Agency for Foreign Market Surveillance and Development to draft a circular regulating the economic and technical characteristics of goods and services included in the list of goods and services subject to price stabilization and price declaration under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, specifically for coal and gas products.

Regarding the implementation of professional tasks, Nguyen Viet Son said that, in general, production and business targets of the oil, gas and coal sectors in the first four months of 2026 were basically fulfilled. Specifically, total oil and gas equivalent output in the reviewed period was estimated at 5.62 million tonnes, exceeding the four-month plan by 19% and fulfilling 39% of the annual target. Of this, crude oil output was estimated at 3.59 million tonnes, surpassing the four-month plan by 12% and reaching 36% of the yearly target. Gas output was estimated at 2.03 million tonnes, exceeding the four-month plan by 33% and fulfilling 45% of the annual target.

Also at the meeting, Vu Quoc Anh, Chief of the Office of the Steering Committee, reported on the monitoring and acceleration of progress for key projects. Accordingly, in the first four months of 2026, the Office effectively carried out the monitoring and supervision of major projects, focusing on large power generation projects under construction or those with identified investors and expected to be completed before 2030, as well as gas-to-power project chains and power grid projects scheduled for completion in 2026 and 2027.

During the session, delegates discussed and exchanged views on various issues related to the implementation of key tasks of the Oil, Gas and Coal Department and the Office of the Steering Committee in the coming period. They also proposed a number of solutions and coordination mechanisms among relevant units to improve operational efficiency.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Le Manh Hung acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts made by the OGCD and the Office of the Steering Committee in carrying out assigned tasks, contributing significantly to the overall performance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Minister stressed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is structured around three major sectors: energy, industry and trade. At the same time, it operates on six pillars, namely strategy - planning - science and technology; organization - internal affairs - communications; energy; industry; domestic market; and foreign trade.

The Minister requested the OGCD, the Office of the Steering Committee and relevant units to review and further improve and consolidate the functions, duties, scope of assignment and management responsibilities of units operating in the energy sector.

According to Minister Le Manh Hung, the management apparatus in the energy sector should be reorganized in a streamlined manner with clear functions, avoiding overlaps and ensuring consistency in policy administration.

Such requirements call for a more comprehensive management approach, not focusing on individual segments separately but overseeing the entire national energy landscape. At the same time, the Minister suggested studying international experience regarding energy security agencies in order to build an organizational model suitable for Vietnam.