Nuclear power project in Ninh Thuận - Deputy Prime Minister advocates for completion by year's end
Vietnam Accelerates Site Clearance and Resettlement for Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project
The Vietnamese Government is pushing forward with the site clearance and resettlement process for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power plants, with a goal to complete the work by the end of 2025. This ambitious timeline is backed by high-level government directives and a coordinated multi-agency effort.
Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has issued strong directives to expedite the process, with official instructions detailed in Notice No. 395/TB-VPCP. The Prime Minister has established a steering committee for nuclear power plant construction, conducting two meetings and assigning ministries like the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Science and Technology, and provincial authorities to specific roles.
Vietnam Electricity (EVN) will develop the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant, while the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam) will build Ninh Thuan 2. The project aims to boost electricity supply and support Vietnam's transition to clean and green energy.
The workload for land acquisition and resettlement is immense and complex, requiring intense focus and coordination among central ministries, provincial authorities, and investors. Khanh Hoa authorities must accelerate compensation, relocation, and resettlement to guarantee affected households are relocated on time with housing and living conditions equal to or better than before. Strict oversight is necessary to prevent corruption and waste during compensation and resettlement.
The Ministry of Science and Technology carries a deadline of August 2025 to update safety regulations aligning with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines, particularly on residential safety buffer zones, supporting safe resettlement. Ministries including Agriculture, Justice, Industry and Trade, and Finance are involved in reviewing and potentially updating compensation and resettlement policies to optimize legal frameworks and budget provisions for smooth implementation.
The Khánh Hòa Provincial People's Committee is responsible for implementing the resettlement and site clearance work for the project. The Ministry of Finance will review the total funding required for resettlement and site clearance for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project and propose central budget support.
The Politburo has given the greenlight to the resumption of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project. The MoIT has been assigned to negotiate intergovernmental agreements with foreign partners regarding the nuclear power project. The Ministry of Science and Technology has been tasked with reviewing legal regulations, IAEA safety guidelines, and international standards to establish a unified regulation on safe distances between the plants and residential areas.
The study for Ninh Thuan 1 must be completed in September 2025, and that for Ninh Thuan 2 no later than June 2026. EVN and Petrovietnam have been instructed to complete the pre-feasibility studies for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power plants and submit them for adjustments to the investment policy.
Deputy PM Son praised the provincial People's Committee for its proactive efforts in completing assigned tasks and actively engaging in public outreach. The government's priority is to ensure site clearance and resettlement proceed smoothly and on schedule to facilitate the deployment of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plants and contribute to the country's clean energy transition and commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050. The project is located in the south-central province of Khánh Hòa, Vietnam. The steering committee for nuclear power plant construction is tasked with strengthening coordination mechanisms with the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation.
The National Assembly has issued a resolution on special mechanisms and policies for the project's implementation. The project includes the construction of two nuclear power plants, Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2.
- The Ministry of Finance is required to evaluate the total funds necessary for resettlement and site clearance of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project and propose central budget support.
- The National Assembly has enacted a resolution outlining special mechanisms and policies for the implementation of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, which includes the construction of two plants, Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2.
- The Ministry of Science and Technology has been entrusted with reexamining legal regulations, IAEA safety guidelines, and international standards to establish a unified regulation regarding safe distances between the nuclear power plants and residential areas.
- The Khánh Hòa Provincial People's Committee is responsible for implementing the resettlement and site clearance work for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project.
- Ministries involved in the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, including Agriculture, Justice, Industry and Trade, and Finance, are working on reviewing and possibly updating the compensation and resettlement policies to improve the legal framework and budget allocations for efficient implementation.
