Vietnam basically completes talks with Russia on Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant

The progress was reported at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday, attended by permanent government members and the standing board of the government’s Party Committee, which reviewed the implementation of the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power projects.

After multiple rounds of discussions, Vietnamese agencies and the Russian side have reached broad consensus on the full draft intergovernmental agreement governing cooperation on the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 plant.

At the meeting, the PM praised ministries and relevant agencies for closely following Party and state directives and actively carrying out assigned tasks, including largely completing negotiations with the Russian partner on the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant.

PM Chinh stressed that nuclear power development is a major, strategic undertaking with a century-long horizon and involves a highly sensitive, high-technology field where nuclear safety must remain a top priority.

He directed the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with relevant bodies and economic groups, to finalize draft reports of the government’s Party Committee on the projects.

The ministry was also tasked with submitting the draft Vietnam–Russia agreement on the Ninh Thuan 1 project, along with related proposals, to competent authorities for review.

PM Chinh assigned Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son to oversee the process, with all draft documents to be submitted to competent authorities by January 27.

The PM instructed that the reports and submissions be concise yet comprehensive, clearly outlining the project implementation process, the status and outcomes of negotiations, and the key contents agreed upon to safeguard national interests while attracting advanced technology.

He also called for streamlined administrative procedures to optimize overall project efficiency.

He noted that the core elements of the draft agreement on cooperation to build the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant had received particular attention and been thoroughly discussed by both sides, along with issues related to accelerating the roll-out of the Ninh Thuan 2 project.

At an earlier meeting, the PM designated Vietnam Electricity and PetroVietnam, both state-owned entities, as investors for the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 projects, respectively.

In late 2024, responding to new development requirements, the National Assembly approved a policy to restart the nuclear power program, reviving the two projects approved in 2009 but suspended in 2016 amid concerns over safety, costs, technological challenges, and shifting global energy trends.

The move was reinforced by the Politburo’s Resolution 70 issued in August 2025, which called for the early deployment of the Ninh Thuan plants to ensure national energy security through 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Both plants were initially planned in the former Ninh Thuan Province, which was merged into Khanh Hoa under a national administrative restructuring effective on July 1, 2025.