On October 1 in Hanoi, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung chaired a working session with the Energy - Petroleum Agency (EPA). Deputy Minister Nguyen Viet Son, representatives of the Ministry’s units, and officials and civil servants of the EPA also attended the session.  ​

At the meeting, Acting Director-General of the Energy - Petroleum Agency Tran Thanh Tung reported on the implementation of the Agency’s tasks during the first nine months of 2026, as well as its key priorities for the remaining months of the year.

The EPA was established in September 2026 and is responsible for advising and assisting the Minister of Industry and Trade in state management and law enforcement in the fields of petroleum, coal, petroleum processing, energy efficiency and conservation, offshore energy associated with petroleum activities, new and other forms of energy, energy transition, and other duties as the standing body for national energy security.

Regarding its orientations and objectives for 2026, the EPA’s leadership said the Agency would focus on monitoring and expediting the implementation of resolutions, schemes, strategies and plans under its assigned areas of responsibility. It will ensure that documents under its remit are prepared and processed to a high standard and completed within the prescribed deadlines. At the same time, the Agency will focus on drafting a Government decree detailing the implementation of the Petroleum Law in December 2026.

The EPA will also develop the National Energy Storage Strategy through 2030, with a vision to 2045; prepare and submit to the competent authorities the adjusted National Master Plan for Energy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050; and the adjusted National Infrastructure Plan for Petroleum and Gas Storage and Supply for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

At the same time, the Agency will continue to study and refine institutions, mechanisms and policies in the petroleum and coal sectors, as well as new energy fields such as hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It will develop and implement solutions to ensure adequate supplies of coal and gas for power generation, contributing to national energy security, and advance the energy transition in line with its assigned functions and responsibilities.

Also at the meeting, representatives of the Ministry’s units exchanged views and contributed recommendations on the EPA’s operational orientations. Discussions focused on the need for coordination among units in policy formulation, planning improvement, ensuring energy supplies and addressing cross-sectoral issues arising during the implementation of assigned tasks.

In his concluding remarks, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung underscored the important role of the EPA in advising on and carrying out state management in the fields of petroleum, coal, new energy and energy transition.

The Minister asked the EPA to promptly stabilize its organizational structure and ensure that its work is carried out smoothly and effectively. He also called on the Agency to improve the quality of its policy advice, closely follow its assigned tasks and proactively address issues arising in practice. In addition, the EPA should continue reviewing and refining mechanisms and policies in the areas under its responsibility, while monitoring the implementation of strategies, plans and schemes to ensure both progress and quality.

Minister Le Manh Hung also stressed that the EPA should pay close attention to national energy security and the supply of coal and gas for power generation, while regularly monitoring energy supply and demand to provide timely recommendations and appropriate solutions. He further called on the Agency to strengthen coordination with units across the Ministry, corporations, enterprises and local authorities to effectively carry out its assigned responsibilities.