The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked relevant agencies and localities to strengthen management of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production and trading activities to ensure market stability.

Under the plan, the MoIT has requested the provincial and municipal Departments of Industry and Trade nationwide to closely supervise the operation of LPG traders and producers in their areas, including surprise inspections of traders’ and wholesalers’ LPG production facilities, supply stations and retail stores to detect violations.

LPG producers and traders who fail to maintain proper business conditions, regulations on fire prevention, safety, hygiene and labour conditions, risk having their operations suspended and business certificates withdrawn.

MoIT also instructed the provincial-level Market Watch Departments nationwide to coordinate with competent agencies and shut down facilities where illegal LPG extracting and refilling are detected. Authorities at all levels were also told to relocate LPG trading establishments out of densely populated areas.

The ministry has ordered its Domestic Market Department to collaborate with the Viet Nam Gas Association to regularly exchange information on gas market mechanisms. The Legal Department has been tasked with reviewing and detecting inadequate and overlapping regulations on LPG trading and proposing amendments and supplements. — VNS