Securing Livelihoods: Reviving the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project

This move aims to synchronize and build trust among the people.

After living with “hanging” planning for many years, more than 1,100 households in the area previously planned for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan province are hoping for a final decision to stabilize their lives.

After the “untying” decision

In July 2023, the People’s Committee of Ninh Thuan province announced the cancellation of land revocation of 820 hectares for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Plant projects. Since then, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quoc and his wife (from Thai An village, Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district) have invested a lot of capital and effort into their 4-sao vineyard. Located on the road connecting the center of Phan Rang – Thap Cham city to Vinh Hy Bay, their garden is bustling with visitors every day, who come to buy grapes and processed products.

However, after hearing the news about the reconsideration of the nuclear power plant project in the area, Mr. Quoc’s family is a little worried about their livelihood. “We support the state in implementing the project, but we also hope to receive support for production and satisfactory resettlement, especially to continue rural tourism as at present,” Mr. Quoc expressed.

Thai An is an area with strengths in agriculture, with crops such as grapes, apples, onions, garlic, and chili. Thanks to good promotion, Thai An grape village is now a familiar address for tourists when coming to Ninh Thuan.

Previously, from 2008, when the state had a policy to build a nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan, many people did not dare to invest heavily for fear of clearance. It was not until the decision to temporarily suspend the project and the local cancellation of land revocation in the planning area that people dared to borrow capital and expand production. “If the nuclear power project is restarted, we hope that the authorities will have a clear direction so that the people can rest assured,” said a grape grower.

In Vinh Truong village, Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, in the last days of November, people are busy aerating the shrimp ponds. More than a year ago, after the decision to “untie” this land, Mr. Nguyen Van Ha decided to rent more ponds, hire workers, and expand the shrimp farming area. “Before, I only cultured scallops on a small scale. Now that I’m doing it on a larger scale, I’m quite worried that if the nuclear power project is restarted, my production land will be revoked,” Mr. Ha said.

Over the past year, about 20 houses in Vinh Truong village have been built or repaired after a long period of dilapidation. Many people who had left their hometowns in search of a living have now returned to do business.

Need a unified policy

Mr. Ngo Viet Kinh Luan, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district, said that after the province decided to cancel the land revocation, the commune authorities have granted land use rights – including certificates, transfers, inheritances, change of purpose, and mortgage registration for borrowing capital… – to stabilize the people’s lives. In addition, many policies to support people in expanding production and business have also been deployed.

In Vinh Truong village, Phuoc Dinh commune, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Du, the former village chief, said that at the time of the policy to implement the nuclear power plant project, the lives of the people were somewhat disrupted. The sea area in front of the village was affected by geological exploration activities; the production land was subject to planning restrictions, limiting planting and breeding. Meanwhile, the payment of support for people affected by the “hanging” planning from 2008-2016 has not been implemented. Therefore, Mr. Du proposed the early implementation of support payments and the clarification of the roadmap if the decision to restart the nuclear power project is made.

According to the People’s Committee of Ninh Thuan province, the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Plant projects with a total capacity of 4,000 MW are key national projects with a great impact and a driving role. Therefore, the general planning of Ninh Thuan province for the period of 2010-2020 was built around the development axis of these nuclear power projects. Thus, the National Assembly’s decision in 2016 to stop the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Projects “broke the growth and development scenarios of the province that had been approved by the Prime Minister.”

Based on identifying potentials and advantages, Ninh Thuan province has adjusted its strategy to develop renewable energy to replace nuclear power. Up to now, the province has 57 projects with 3,750 MW of renewable energy.

Regarding the proposal to restart the nuclear power project, Ninh Thuan province agrees and requests a clear roadmap to avoid wasting investment resources. To make the research and development of nuclear power contribute to ensuring the country’s energy security and sustainable development, responding to the net-zero emission target by 2050, Ninh Thuan province proposes that the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommend competent authorities to consider and have a unified policy to effectively and synchronously implement it, building trust among the people.

Ninh Thuan province also proposed that the Central Government build and perfect regulations and promulgate special mechanisms and policies to ensure a legal basis for the development of this clean energy source.