Negotiating the construction of nuclear power plants in the spirit of harmonious benefits and shared risks

Photo caption — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh , Head of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Power Plant Construction, chaired the third meeting of the Steering Committee. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

At the meeting, the Steering Committee focused on reviewing the implementation of tasks; proposing tasks and solutions for the coming time, promoting the construction of nuclear power plants to meet the country's development requirements.

Accordingly, the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project was approved for investment in 2009 by the 12th National Assembly. However, in 2016, the 14th National Assembly passed a resolution to suspend the project. Faced with the requirements of the new development period, at the end of 2024, the Party Central Committee and the National Assembly reviewed and agreed on the policy of restarting the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project (now in Khanh Hoa province). Immediately after that, the Prime Minister issued decisions to establish and consolidate the Steering Committee for the construction of the nuclear power plant.

The Prime Minister has assigned tasks to the investor; site clearance; adding the nuclear power plant to the Power Plan VIII; submitting to the National Assembly for promulgation of the Law on Atomic Energy and is developing decrees and circulars for implementation; issuing a plan to implement the National Assembly's resolution on special mechanisms and policies for developing Ninh Thuan nuclear power; developing a project to train nuclear power human resources; developing a financial mechanism for site clearance for the construction of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant; has been working with foreign partners related to the project; plans to arrange and find capital sources for the project...

Ministries, branches and localities coordinate to develop plans, select technologies, survey roadmaps, establish feasibility designs, construction and steps to appraise feasibility study reports (FS) and be ready to negotiate and sign EPC contracts; develop a special national-level scientific and technological research program on nuclear power technology and safety; work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assess Vietnam's nuclear power infrastructure according to IAEA standards...

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Steering Committee, highly appreciated the ministries, branches and members of the Steering Committee for actively implementing the tasks according to the conclusion of the 2nd meeting of the Steering Committee, with specific results, responding to the new situation. Of which, 9/18 tasks have been completed; 7/19 tasks are being implemented; but 2/18 tasks have not been implemented.

Pointing out a number of limitations that need to be overcome in the progress of negotiations with foreign partners on the construction of nuclear power plants, site clearance, and completion of related legal bases, the Prime Minister requested ministries, branches, localities, and members of the Steering Committee to proactively resolve issues beyond their authority, and to synthesize and report to competent authorities for consideration and resolution.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested relevant ministries, branches and localities to effectively implement Resolution 328/NQ-CP on the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW dated August 20, 2025 of the Politburo on ensuring national energy security until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Along with that, it is necessary to synthesize the remaining legal issues and develop them into a draft Resolution to submit to the National Assembly for consideration in order to complete the legal frameworks related to the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plants. In particular, there is a review of the special mechanisms and policies for investment in the construction of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project in Resolution No. 189/2025/QH15, and if necessary, propose additional amendments.

Ministries, branches and agencies, according to their functions and tasks, coordinate to handle the recommendations of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on the mechanism to implement the project of migration, resettlement and site clearance for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant project.

Directing Khanh Hoa province to build resettlement projects, support and compensate people appropriately, ensuring that people's lives in new places must be better, at least equal to their old places; at the same time, propagandizing and mobilizing people to give up land for the project, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Finance to consider, arrange and submit an additional 9,000 billion VND as proposed by Khanh Hoa province for site clearance.

Requiring ministries and branches to actively work on negotiations and complete the Agreement with Russia on cooperation in building the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant, the Prime Minister noted that during the negotiation process, similar Agreements between countries should be consulted, in the spirit of harmonious benefits and shared risks; the contents of the Agreement must be based on principles, comply with the regulations and standards of the IAEA, as well as the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage; and be suitable to Vietnam's conditions.

Regarding the issue of loan negotiations and tax, fee and charge policies related to nuclear power projects, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to study suitable options and submit them to the National Assembly for consideration.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) to urgently focus on establishing a pre-feasibility project, and at the same time study and establish a technical design so that competent authorities can consider the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant. The Vietnam National Energy and Industry Group (PVN) will carry out the investment project to build the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant; coordinate with ministries and agencies to completely handle previous backlogs.

The Ministry of Education and Training closely coordinates with EVN and PVN to clearly identify the demand for quantity, qualifications and expertise of human resources to serve nuclear power plants. On that basis, organize training and call for and attract domestic and foreign human resources to work.

In the spirit of utmost urgency, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pointed out that ministries, branches, localities, and members of the Steering Committee must continue to focus, spend time, effort, and intelligence to carry out tasks according to their functions, duties, and powers regarding the construction of nuclear power plants.

In particular, completing the negotiation of the Cooperation Agreement on the construction of Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant with Russia and completing the legal corridors in November 2025; basically concluding negotiations with Japanese partners on issues related to Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant; at the same time reporting to the Politburo on the implementation of the construction of the nuclear power plant according to Resolution 70 of the Politburo on ensuring national energy security until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/dam-phan-xay-dung-nha-may-dien-hat-nhan-tren-tinh-than-loi-ich-hai-hoa-rui-ro-chia-se-20251022191843113.htm