Latest Updates on Vietnam’s First Nuclear Power Project

On the morning of January 13th, Mr. Trịnh Minh Hoàng, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, chaired a meeting with relevant departments, agencies, and localities to review the progress of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project (Phuoc Dinh commune) and the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant project (Vinh Hai commune).

Accelerating the Implementation of Two Nuclear Power Projects

According to the report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project has completed the inventory of the plant construction area, achieving 100% of the total area of 449.37 hectares.

Additionally, land origin verification has reached 89% of the total affected cases, corresponding to 93% of the area (417.69 hectares). For the resettlement area serving this project, inventory and land origin verification have been completed for 129 cases. The groundbreaking ceremony for the infrastructure of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant resettlement area is scheduled for January 15th.

Meanwhile, for the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant project, competent agencies have completed 100% of the inventory and land origin verification for 534 affected households. The plan for arranging infrastructure to serve relocation and the location of the resettlement area was also approved by the Provincial Party Committee in late December 2025.

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman Trịnh Minh Hoàng acknowledged and highly appreciated the proactive efforts of departments, agencies, and localities in accelerating the implementation of the two nuclear power projects. Based on this, he requested relevant units to continue thorough preparations to ensure the successful organization of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant resettlement area. He also urged speeding up the disbursement of public investment capital for both projects.

Furthermore, he asked localities to continue strengthening communication and dissemination of state policies to build consensus among the public, ensuring the smooth implementation of the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant projects as planned.

Vietnam’s First-Ever Nuclear Power Project

In 2009, the National Assembly first approved the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, comprising two plants with a total capacity of 4,000 MW over an area of more than 1,600 hectares. This project is not only a key energy initiative but also expected to usher in a new era for Vietnam’s nuclear science and technology.

However, by 2016, the project was suspended due to multiple pressures: excessive investment capital, unstable macroeconomic conditions, and safety concerns following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.

Nearly a decade later, a significant milestone emerged. On November 25, 2024, at the 8th Plenary Session of the 13th Party Central Committee, the Party Central Committee agreed to restart the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project and directed long-term research on Vietnam’s nuclear power program. Just days later, on November 30, 2024, the National Assembly adopted a resolution to continue the investment policy, creating a legal breakthrough for the project’s revival.

In parallel, the amended Electricity Law supplemented regulations related to nuclear power, and the Government also included the amended Atomic Energy Law in the legislative program to complete the legal framework for this specialized field. The determination was further emphasized when, on December 5, 2024, General Secretary To Lam directly inspected the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant site, requesting full preparation and swift implementation to avoid the prolonged delays of the previous phase.

In the context of Vietnam’s continuously growing electricity demand, the decision to restart the project is even more significant. According to Power Plan VIII, by 2030, the power capacity needs to reach about 150,000 MW, and could exceed half a million MW by 2050. With an average annual growth rate of 10%, the economy requires a stable and sustainable energy source.

While solar and wind power are developing rapidly, they remain highly dependent on natural conditions, and coal-fired power faces challenges in reducing emissions to meet Net Zero commitments.