The relaunch of research and resource preparation for this specific type of energy demonstrates the new stature of a locality that is a pioneer in realizing the nation's strategic goals and green economy .
The location of Nuclear Power Plant No. 2 in Vinh Hai commune is near the sea, has a relatively flat terrain, and is sparsely populated.
Vietnam is aiming for double-digit economic growth starting in 2026. At that rate, electricity demand will increase by approximately 12-14% annually, while traditional power sources are gradually reaching their limits, hydropower is nearing its potential, coal-fired power is under pressure from emissions, and solar and wind power are weather-dependent.
Nuclear power, with its characteristics of stable 24/7 electricity generation and near-zero carbon emissions, has become an indispensable strategic option. On August 20, 2025, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 70 on ensuring national energy security until 2030, with a vision to 2045, which urgently requires the implementation of the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power projects.
Solid foundation
In 2009, the National Assembly first approved the investment plan for nuclear power in Resolution No. 41/2009/QH12, selecting two locations in the former Ninh Thuan province, now part of Khanh Hoa province: Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Phuoc Dinh commune and Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant in Vinh Hai commune, with a total projected capacity of over 4,000 MW, sufficient to supply electricity to tens of millions of households. However, due to objective reasons, the project was temporarily suspended in 2016.
The location of Nuclear Power Plant No. 1 is in Phuoc Dinh commune. Much of the land in this area remains uncultivated.
On November 30, 2024, the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 174/2024/QH15 officially restarting the project. By February 19, 2025, with 459 out of 460 delegates voting in favor (99.78%), the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 189/2025/QH15, promulgating special mechanisms and policies to create a superior legal framework.
On August 22, 2025, the Government issued Resolution No. 249/NQ-CP on the plan to implement Resolution 189 with 10 specific task groups assigned to ministries, sectors and localities.
On December 5, 2024, General Secretary and President To Lam (then General Secretary) personally inspected the construction site of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Phuoc Dinh commune, emphasizing the need to quickly develop a specific plan for immediate implementation, ensuring efficiency and avoiding waste due to delays.
Regarding the investors, at the second meeting of the Steering Committee for the construction of nuclear power plants on February 4, 2025, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) was assigned as the investor for Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant, and the National Energy Industry Group (Petrovietnam) as the investor for Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant, striving for completion before December 31, 2030. The Ministry of Industry and Trade was assigned the role of coordinating and collaborating with relevant ministries and agencies to promote all preparatory work.
Resettlement area for Nuclear Power Plant 1 in Phuoc Dinh commune.
Regarding technology, after 32 rounds of direct and online negotiations from June 2025 to March 2026, on March 23, 2026, Vietnam and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant. Both sides agreed to build two units based on the VVER-1200 reactor design by Rosatom, with a total capacity of 2,400 MW. This is an improved third-generation reactor with a passive cooling system that does not require electricity to operate – a lesson learned directly from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan in 2011.
This agreement is considered a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation and an important step in elevating the traditional energy relationship between the two countries to a new level. According to the plan approved by the Prime Minister, the operational phase is expected to take place from 2031-2035 with a total capacity of 4,000-6,400 MW.
Khanh Hoa takes on the responsibility.
From July 1st, 2025, following the merger, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province was assigned as the investor to implement the resettlement and land clearance project for both nuclear power plants. The province immediately established a provincial-level steering committee chaired by the Chairman of the People's Committee, and issued 4 groups with 52 specific tasks in accordance with the "6 clear" principles: clear person, clear task, clear time, clear responsibility, clear output, and clear authority.
In 2025, the province disbursed 3,236 billion VND, achieving 100% of the assigned plan. On March 9, 2026, then-Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held an online meeting with the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province, requesting the completion of land handover before June 30, 2026. Due to the backlog of compensation files caused by a shortage of specialized personnel at the commune level, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Viet Hung, directed the direct deployment of provincial-level officials to the communes to handle and sign files on-site.
Leaders of Khanh Hoa province worked with residents of Vinh Hai commune on resettlement issues on October 23, 2025.
To resolve difficulties and gain public consensus, on March 30, 2026, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 121/2026, applying a multiplier of 1.5 times to the entire current compensation policy framework.
Those whose agricultural land is confiscated and who are eligible for vocational retraining support will receive a maximum support amount equal to 5 times the land price multiplied by a factor of 1.5; those eligible for resettlement will be exempt from 100% of the land use fee for the minimum resettlement quota. The Provincial People's Committee also issued regulations providing housing rental support of 5 million VND/household/month while awaiting resettlement.
According to a report presented at the meeting on the morning of May 25, 2026, chaired by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trinh Minh Hoang, the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project affects a total of 1,129 households with an area of 515 hectares; compensation plans have been approved for 184 cases with a budget of approximately 653 billion VND, and payments have been made to 46 cases with 154 billion VND; the recovered area has reached 82.8 hectares, equivalent to 16% of the project area.
At the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant, a total of 869 cases were affected, covering an area of over 480 hectares; compensation plans have been approved for 264 cases with a total budget of nearly 798 billion VND, and payments have been made to 156 cases covering an area of 57.5 hectares; the recovered area reached 106.2 hectares, equivalent to 12.63% of the project area.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trinh Minh Hoang frankly assessed that the progress is still much lower than the requirement to complete the project before June 30, 2026. He requested that localities hold weekly meetings to learn from experience and urgently find solutions to overcome difficulties.
Alongside land clearance, Khanh Hoa proactively built a foundation of social awareness from an early stage. The communication plan until 2035 aims to ensure that at least 70% of people in the project area have access to full information about the benefits, risks, and safety measures; 70% of students receive extracurricular knowledge; and 100% of provincial-level leaders receive training on nuclear energy.
The Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project Management Board under EVN is currently conducting in-depth training on 19 nuclear power infrastructure topics as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), preparing personnel for the construction and operation phases.
With a synchronized policy system from the central to local levels and clear political determination at the highest level, the nuclear power project in Khanh Hoa is making the most substantial progress since its approval in 2009. Not only does it contribute to ensuring national energy security, but it also serves as a catalyst for Khanh Hoa to seize a historic opportunity and become a clean energy hub in Central Vietnam.
Source: https://mst.gov.vn/van-hoi-moi-tu-dien-hat-nhan-khanh-hoa-197260622101825223.htm
