Presidential Decree No. 12/18 approving the Statute of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Petroleum (MIREMPET).

This Presidential Decree approves the Statute of the Ministry of Geology and Mining (MGM). The Statute, consisting of 27 articles divided into four Chapters and three Annexes, establishes composition, duties and responsibilities of the above mentioned institution, as an auxiliary Ministerial Department of the President of the Republic and Head of the Executive Branch. The Ministry is responsible for formulating, conducting, executing and controlling the Executive's policy regarding geological and mineral activities, petroleum, gas and biofuels, namely for the exploration, research, development and production of minerals, crude oil and gas, for refining, petrochemical, storage, distribution and commercialization of mineral and petroleum products, as well as for the production and commercialization of biofuels. In particular, it aims to formulate and propose the general bases of the national policy on mineral, petroleum and biofuel resources; prepare and propose the programme for the development of mineral, oil and biofuel resources, in accordance with the National Plan and ensure the control and enforcement of its execution; promote studies of inventory of the potential of the country's mineral, oil and biofuel resources; study and propose legislation regulating the activities of the sector; ensure the implementation of actions that fall within the Executive's policy regarding the exploitation of mineral, oil and biofuel resources; etc.