Complete procedures for investing in Ninh Thuan nuclear power in 5 years

At the end of November 2024, the National Assembly resolved to restart the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project after 8 years of pause. According to the Government’s plan at the end of 2009, the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project includes two plants Ninh Thuan 1 and 2, with a total capacity of 4,000 MW (2×2,000 MW).

In Directive 01 dated January 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the Minister of Industry and Trade to direct the implementation and completion of investment in the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant project in 5 years.

Previously, at a press conference in early December 2024, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said that this agency had advised the Government and Prime Minister on establishing a Steering Committee and Working Group to continue launching the project. nuclear power program in Vietnam.

Currently, the basic legal framework has sufficient basis to implement this project. At the 8th session, the National Assembly passed the amended Electricity Law, which includes content on nuclear power development. Other legal systems related to investment, construction, safety, environmental protection… are also sufficient basis for implementation. In the coming time, the Government plans to report to the National Assembly to amend the Law on Atomic Energy with contents related to the development of this energy source. In addition, to be able to deploy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will soon submit to the competent authorities to amend the Power Plan VIII.

In the process of preparing investment work, choosing an investor is an important content. This will be the subject implementing the entire process, from research, proposal, construction and operation of the power plant. Regarding the locality, this Ministry has asked the leaders of Ninh Thuan province to research and soon create conditions for clean land and people’s consensus for the project.

Nuclear power is a basic, green and sustainable source of electricity. Therefore, developing this power source helps diversify supply sources, ensure energy security and green energy transition, achieving the goal of net zero emissions (Net Zero) by 2050 as committed at COP26.

Among them, ensuring national energy security, according to the Prime Minister, is “a particularly important political task” in the new era of digital transformation and high technology development.

In 2025, the Government sets an economic growth target of over 8%, as a foundation to achieve double-digit growth in the period 2026-2030. With this growth rate, electricity must increase 1.5 times, 6 times, meaning 8,000-10,000 MW of electricity needs to be added each year. Meanwhile, the implementation of power source projects still has many problems. In the period 2021-2025, power source development is expected to reach only 56.7% of the plan. This poses a potential risk of power shortage in the coming period.

“This is a big challenge, so there needs to be a quick solution to develop power sources, especially clean power sources,” the Prime Minister assessed.

To ensure growth goals, the Prime Minister requested that there be absolutely no shortage of electricity. The electricity industry must not let projects and constructions get stuck due to slow handling of administrative procedures. He assigned the Minister of Industry and Trade to increase inspection, supervision, and monitoring of developments in electricity demand and arising factors for reporting.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade studies and adjusts Power Planning VIII to suit needs. This agency updates and adds new power source projects, green and clean power sources, eliminates and replaces behind-schedule and inappropriate projects. They must also direct and speed up the progress of key and urgent projects with LNG, hydropower, thermal power, and Ninh Thuan nuclear power projects.

Energy corporations including Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN), Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group (TKV) increased investment progress in power projects, ensuring fuel and energy supply.

Specifically, PVN urgently constructs Nhon Trach 3 and 4 thermal power plants, to be completed in June. At the same time, projects restart construction of Long Phu I thermal power plant, Block B power project chain – O Mon, the Ca Voi Xanh gas-electricity project chain must also speed up progress. In addition, PVN needs to soon complete research to deploy a pilot offshore wind power project in 2025.

Chairman of the People’s Committees of provinces with power projects and works are required to handle procedures related to forest land and rice land, especially with key and urgent projects.