📋 Tender Overview
The Government Office has just issued a Press Release on the direction and administration of the Government and the Prime Minister on January 19, 2026 (1). Amending and supplementing a number of articles of decrees in the field of water resources The Government issued Decree No. 23/2026/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of decrees in the field of water resources; which adds conditions for granting licenses for water resource exploitation and underground water exploration to Decree No. 54/2024/ND-CP. Download Amending and supplementing a number of articles of decrees in the field of water resources Specifically, Decree No. 23/2026/ND-CP supplements Articles 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d of Decree No. 54/2024/ND-CP dated May 16, 2024 on principles, grounds, and conditions for granting licenses to exploit water resources and explore underground water...Principles of registration and issuance licenses for exploration, exploitation and use of water resources. Decree No. 23/2026/ND-CP stipulates that the registration and licensing of exploration, exploitation and use of water resources must ensure the following principles: 1- Right authority, right subjects and order and procedures according to the provisions of law. 2- Ensuring the interests of the State, legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals that have been registered and granted water resource exploitation licenses and exploration licenses. underground water and that of other relevant organizations and individuals. 3- Priority is given to registration and licensing of exploration, exploitation and use of water resources for daily use. 4- Protection of water resources and environmental protection according to the provisions of law; Do not cause degradation, depletion, or pollution of water resources when exploring, exploiting, and using water resources. Basis for granting water resources exploitation licenses and underground water exploration licenses. Decree No. 23/2026/ND-CP stipulates that the issuance of water resources exploitation licenses and underground water exploration licenses must be based on the following bases: a- Water resources planning (water resource functions; exploitation limits for each river and section). rivers; aquifer exploitation limits; protecting water resources, preventing degradation, depletion, and pollution of water sources); Sector planning, regional planning, provincial planning, detailed sector planning with the content of exploiting and using water resources; regulations on prohibited and restricted areas for underground water exploitation; In cases where there are no plans or plans that have not specified specific regulations, have not yet promulgated areas prohibiting or restricting the exploitation of underground water or must address the urgent need in supplying water for peoples daily life, it must be based on the ability of the water source and the urgency of the need to exploit and use water; b- Current status of exploitation and use of water resources in the area; regulations on protection, regulation, distribution, exploitation and use of water resources; prevent, combat and overcome harmful effects caused by water; c- Results of appraisal by competent authorities on dossiers applying for licenses to exploit water resources and licenses to explore underground water; d- The need to exploit and use water resources is shown in the written request for a license. The Decree clearly states that in the case of granting a license to exploit underground water, the license to explore underground water must also be based on the provisions of Article 30 and Clause 4, Article 31 of the Law on Natural Resources. water. Conditions for granting water resource exploitation licenses and underground water exploration licenses1. Organizations and individuals are granted a license to exploit water resources when they meet the following conditions: - Complete the collection of opinions as prescribed in Clause 8, Article 52 of the Law on Water Resources and Article 3 of this Decree; - The exploitation of water resources is consistent with the content specified in Points a and b, the basis for granting a license to exploit water resources and a license to explore underground water; exploit underground water in accordance with regulations related to prohibited areas and restricted areas from exploiting underground water as prescribed in Article 31 of the Law on Water Resources.2. Organizations and individuals are granted underground water exploration licenses when they have a construction plan for underground water exploration items shown in the content of the underground water exploration project, meeting the requirements for underground water protection and in accordance with regulations related to prohibited areas and restricted areas for underground water exploitation according to the provisions of Article 31 of the Law on Water Resources.3. Organizations exploiting surface water that build dams and reservoirs on rivers and streams, in addition to meeting the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article and Point b, Clause 3, Article 50 of the Law on Water Resources, must also meet the following conditions: - Have a plan for equipment and human resources to monitor hydrometeorology, forecast the amount of water reaching the lake, operate the reservoir, observe and supervise the exploitation of water resources; - Have a reservoir operation process in accordance with the law on safety management of dams and reservoirs. water and electricity in cases where the project already exists. Particularly for dams and irrigation reservoirs, there is a plan or procedure for operating the reservoir in cases where the project already exists.4. When an organization or individual submits an application for issuance, extension, adjustment, or re-issuance of a water resource exploitation license or underground water exploration license, the competent authority shall consider and decide to issue a water resource
