Strong Specific Mechanism Needed to Speed up Nuclear Power Projects

Implementing a targeted policy mechanism for investing in the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant is right and consistent with current needs, paving the way for the advancement of nuclear power and energy for Vietnam’s sustainable development and peaceful purposes.

The potential site for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project 

Good opportunity

At its 9th Extraordinary Session, on February 17, 2025, the 15th National Assembly (NA) discussed a draft resolution on piloting some policies to remove obstacles in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; and special mechanisms and policies for investment in building the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project. Agreeing with the need for special mechanisms and policies for the construction of Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant as proposed by the Government in Report 74 to promptly and comprehensively institutionalize Party guidelines and State policies, Duong Khac Mai of the Dak Nong NA delegation shared that before casting his vote to approve the resumption of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project at the 8th NA Session, a voter messaged him: "Nuclear power is affordable, stable, low-emission and highly capable. Please don’t miss this opportunity, as delaying it will hinder the country's development."

Many countries are currently amending their policies and have many new moves toward nuclear power to ensure energy security and reduce carbon emissions, he said.

Some countries have nuclear programs, focusing on building and upgrading nuclear reactors to increase capacity and produce electricity. Many are considering using nuclear energy as a new energy source to ensure energy security and reduce carbon emissions.

That global development has demonstrated the importance of nuclear energy in diminishing emissions and affirm its role in energy security and sustainable economic development.

"Therefore, with Vietnam's expanding and rapidly growing energy demand, nuclear power development is a vital, objective and lawful requirement," Mai emphasized.

In response to the country's economic development requirements and the specific nature of nuclear power plants, the National Assembly's introduction of a specific policy mechanism for investment in building Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant is right, consistent with current reality and requirements. This is a breakthrough policy for the development of nuclear power as well as nuclear energy for Vietnam's peaceful and development purposes

This is a condition for developing a stable power source, meeting the increasing demand for socioeconomic development, ensuring national defense and energy security which is posing new issues while helping realize Net Zero goals by 2050 that Vietnam is committed to.

Commenting on this issue, Trinh Thi Tu Anh of Lam Dong NA delegation said that nuclear power is today a commercial technology in the world with many suppliers. There are 431 operational nuclear power plants in 32 countries around the world. Eight countries have mastered large-capacity nuclear power technologies of the third and third plus generations with superior and outstanding safety features.

"Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant is the first project in Vietnam. With the schedule approved by the National Steering Committee, many things will need specific mechanisms and policies to ensure progress," she said.

5-year construction is completely feasible

Concurring with the recommendations of the NA's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, Duong Khac Mai pointed out that, in addition to potential and positive benefits, the project presents many risks and challenges that need to be carefully considered, including finance, technology, and social, geopolitical and environmental safety.

To successfully carry out the project, he suggested that the Government direct relevant agencies to carefully study and comprehensively assess risks, make thorough preparations in all aspects, introduce management policies and adopt short-term and long-term solutions to ensure strictness, transparency, efficiency and sustainability.

According to him, this field has specifically sophisticated technology while we must admit that our country is only at a basic level in this field and many related supporting fields. Therefore, it is certain that we will have to depend on foreign partners. Additionally, human resources for the project are also a big issue and if we do not address this, the construction progress as well as the project operation will be affected.

"If there is no appropriate human resource policy, it will be particularly difficult to implement, apply and operate domestic projects in the short and long terms," he added, suggesting that the Government adopt plans and solutions on human resource training for the project.

Besides, there needs to be a policy mechanism to mobilize maximum resources from the people, state-owned enterprises and domestic private sector for the project to ease pressure on the State budget. By doing so, we will be able to ensure project progress while developing a skilled workforce capable of mastering technology and independently operating the project in the shortest time. Alongside advancements in other industries, it will propel our country into a new era, an era of national growth.

The Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant is Vietnam's first nuclear power project, but we are not starting from scratch, Trinh Thi Tu Anh emphasized, putting forth three proposals.

First, urgently build and complete the Law on Atomic Energy, a specialized law designed to create a legal corridor to ensure safety and security in the country's atomic energy sector, based on recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency - IAEA.

“This is an important basis for issuing normative documents and guidelines to ensure nuclear safety and security, including nuclear power plant design, nuclear power plant fabrication and construction, nuclear power plant commissioning and official operation, radioactive waste management, nuclear power plant decommissioning and international principles of conduct with nuclear power plants,” she said.

Second, develop and train human resources. According to IAEA guidelines, two units with a capacity of 1,200 MW will require 1,200 experts specializing in nuclear technology, electromechanical control systems, chemical radiation protection, incident response, radioactive waste management, quality assurance, operations, maintenance and spare parts management. At the same time, to guarantee the sustainable development of its nuclear power industry, Vietnam needs to develop researchers, engineers and technicians to supplement high-quality human resources.

Third, provide effective communications and best support for people in project areas to create social consensus to make sure that they can have a better life after giving up land for the nuclear power plant project. She believed that, with the high determination of the entire political system, the consensus and support of the people, and with specific mechanisms and policies, if approved by the National Assembly, completing the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant within five years is entirely feasible.

Strong special mechanism and policies are needed

Speaking at the NA meeting, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said: “Our country's electricity demand will surge in the coming years to support an annual growth target of 8–10% or higher by 2030. According to the draft Power Plan VIII, the total revised capacity of the entire system is expected to be at 230,000 MW by 2030, three times the current capacity.”

Vietnam is committed to the international community to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, so it needs to strongly develop all types of power sources, especially renewable energy, to fulfil the increased demand for electricity and the need for clean electricity for economic development. Meanwhile, nuclear power is a clean, base power source with high available capacity, thus capable of supplying stable electricity at reasonable prices in the long term and helping ensure national energy security and achieve double-digit economic growth in the new era.

Therefore, the Party, the National Assembly and Government have directed the re-launch of the nuclear power program and Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project. This project has sophisticated technologies that only a few countries own, and it requires huge investment capital. In the world, to complete a nuclear power project of similar scale, it usually takes about 10 years, from investment approval to official operation. Even the fastest projects require 7–8 years for completion. All projects must have specific policy mechanisms for implementation.

Due to the complexity of the nuclear power project and the maiden presence in Vietnam, to complete the project in 2030-2031, Vietnam needs strong specific mechanisms and policies to accelerate progress and shorten the implementation time.

Minister Dien said, such specific mechanisms and policies will facilitate synchronous implementation in addition to many project items like negotiating turnkey general contractor partnership agreement, preparing and approving pre-feasibility study reports and feasibility studies, arranging investment capital, carrying out land compensation, resettlement and site preparation, and training human resources to accelerate the overall progress and complete the project as expected by Party and State leaders.

By Duy Anh, Vietnam Business Forum