Vietnam: Petroleum projects on the mainland must be established with the safety corridors

Specifically, according to provisions of Article 16 of the Decree No. 03/2002/NĐ-CP of the Government of Vietnam, at the petroleum offices, enterprises, projects, means and equipment, there must be appropriate forces to safely protect them, prevent and fight fires and explosions, and prevent and intercept incidents. Security and safety forces must satisfy all conditions on professional qualities and qualifications and be equipped with necessary means in order to fulfill the tasks of protecting petroleum security and safety within their respective responsibilities.

Besides, according to provisions of Article 17 of the Decree No. 03/2002/NĐ-CP, for petroleum projects on the mainland, the safety corridors must be established and there must be forms of making public the regulations on the protection of the safety corridors so that everyone can know and comply with. In the safety corridor, it is strictly forbidden to build projects, to plant perennial trees, burn fires, use heat- or fire-emitting devices and carry out other activities that may cause harm to petroleum projects.

Particularly, where it is necessary to use a safety corridor for security, defense or other special purposes, the permission of a competent State bodies must be obtained and measures to ensure safety for petroleum projects must be taken. The safety corridors around petroleum projects on the mainland shall be prescribed by competent State bodies at the proposal of Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation.

Moreover, according to provisions of Article 18 of the Decree No. 03/2002/NĐ-CP, organizations and individuals that have no responsibility are strictly forbidden to encroach upon, or carry out activities in any form in, the safety zone of offshore petroleum projects, except for special cases permitted by the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

Note: The width of the safety zone of an offshore petroleum project is 500 m outwards calculated from the outermost edge of the project or from the anchoring position for floating means. Within two nautical miles calculated from the outermost edge of an offshore petroleum project, means, boats and ships that have no responsibility must not be anchored. The coordinates of the safety zones surrounding offshore petroleum activities or projects shall be announced by the Vietnamese maritime security authority at the proposal of Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation.

More details at the Decree No. 03/2002/NĐ-CP of the Government of Vietnam, effective from January 22, 2002.

Le Vy

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE