Measures underway to ensure Vietnam’s energy security

According to Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang, Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued recommendations to minimize the impact of the conflict in the region.

In particular, export–import industry associations were requested to closely monitor developments and maintain regular exchanges with relevant authorities to provide updated information for their members, enabling them to proactively adjust production, import–export and transport plans, avoid congestion and reduce negative impacts arising from the current conflict. 

Domestic authorities are continuing to closely monitor the situation and update information on developments in the region to share with industry associations, while studying the possibility of strengthening cooperation with international organisations in order to proactively respond to similar situations in the future. 

On March 4, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Decision No. 385/QD-TTg establishing a task force to ensure energy security in response to the complex developments of the conflict in the Middle East. The task force is tasked with regularly monitoring, assessing and forecasting the situation, reviewing the implementation of relevant measures, and promptly addressing difficulties and obstacles to ensure adequate fuel supply for production, business activities and people’s consumption. 

The task force will also study and propose directions, solutions, mechanisms and policies to remove bottlenecks, strengthen forecasting capacity and ensure flexible, timely and effective policy responses so that Vietnam will not face unexpected disruptions to its energy security, said Hang. 

As a member of the task force, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate closely with other relevant ministries, sectors and agencies to effectively carry out tasks aimed at ensuring energy security amid the crisis in the Middle East, the spokesperson affirmed. 

* Regarding the protection of Vietnamese citizens in the Middle East, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said that according to Vietnamese representative missions in the region, more than 12,000 Vietnamese citizens are currently living, studying and working there. 

She affirmed that so far, the situation of Vietnamese citizens in the region remains generally stable, and there have been no reports of citizens affected by the conflict. 

In response to the current developments, under the close direction of Party and State leaders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has coordinated closely with relevant agencies and Vietnamese representative missions in Iran, Israel and neighbouring countries to monitor the situation and maintain regular contact with Vietnamese communities in the host countries. The missions have also worked with local authorities to support Vietnamese citizens, including tourists in transit and delegations whose flights were cancelled due to airspace closures. 

The ministry has advised citizens to ensure their safety, provided emergency contact channels and actively implemented citizen protection measures, while preparing evacuation plans if necessary, Hang said. 

* Regarding maritime activities in the Middle East, Hang said that according to relevant domestic authorities, maritime transport through the region currently faces many safety and security risks. The Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration has therefore requested relevant agencies, shipowners’ associations, Vietnamese shipowners and crew supply companies to regularly monitor and update developments in the region so as to take timely preventive and response measures, ensuring the safety of Vietnamese vessels operating on international routes and Vietnamese seafarers working on foreign ships passing through the area. 

Vietnamese missions in Iran, Israel and neighbouring countries are continuing to closely follow the situation and coordinate with domestic authorities to prepare necessary protection measures in case Vietnamese vessels or citizens encounter difficulties, she added.