On the evening of January 7, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is also head of the Steering Committee for the construction of nuclear power plants, chaired the fourth meeting of the committee, according to the Vietnam News Agency. He valued ministries and agencies for their timely efforts to remove bottlenecks in the implementation of nuclear power projects, while calling for a comprehensive review of mechanisms to ensure progress remains on track.

Ministry of Industry and Trade assigned key tasks

Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister said that at the third meeting of the Steering Committee, he had assigned 15 tasks to ministries, agencies and localities. To date, 12 tasks have been completed, while the remaining three are under implementation.

He commended ministries and agencies, particularly the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), for proactively carrying out assigned tasks and closely coordinating with relevant units to promptly address difficulties and obstacles, thereby accelerating progress. At the same time, the Prime Minister frankly pointed out that in some cases, implementation remained passive and certain tasks were delayed, especially negotiations on cooperation agreements, capital arrangements and the legal framework for site clearance and resettlement.

To accelerate project implementation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to proactively perform their duties within their assigned authority. Any emerging difficulties should be promptly reported to Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son for direction and resolution; matters beyond authority must be reported to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister assigned the MoIT to officially inform the Japanese side of Vietnam’s decision not to cooperate in investing in and constructing the Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant. The ministry was also tasked with completing relevant dossiers and submitting them to the Government for a decision on terminating the adjustment of the investment cooperation agreement for the Ninh Thuan 2 project, in accordance with the Law on International Treaties and relevant regulations.

At the same time, the MoIT is required to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to develop negotiation plans on unresolved issues for discussions with the Russian side regarding cooperation in the investment and construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant, and to promptly report any arising problems to competent authorities, ensuring completion within January 2026.

The ministry was also asked to actively monitor and urge the implementation of tasks assigned under Government Resolution No. 249/NQ-CP dated August 22, 2025, which promulgates the plan to implement National Assembly Resolution No. 189/2025/QH15 on special mechanisms and policies for investment in the construction of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, ensuring effectiveness, quality and adherence to the approved schedule.

In coordination with the Ministry of Justice and other relevant agencies, the MoIT must complete legal procedures and dossiers of the Government in accordance with current regulations, and submit them to the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration and adoption of a resolution on additional special mechanisms and policies for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project.

Reviewing mechanisms, ensuring capital and project timelines

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue supporting the MoIT, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), the Vietnam National Industry and Energy Group (Petrovietnam) and relevant agencies in exchanges and negotiations with partners, and to promptly provide opinions through diplomatic channels to help resolve difficulties in nuclear power investment cooperation.

The Ministry of Science and Technology was instructed to urgently finalize and submit dossiers to competent authorities for the issuance of the list of state secrets in the science and technology sector within January 2026, and to develop and promulgate national technical standards for nuclear power.

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Khanh Hoa provincial administration, was tasked with reviewing and proposing additional central budget allocations to support the province in implementing resettlement, site clearance and relocation projects for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plants. The ministry was also required to urgently coordinate with relevant agencies to proactively negotiate with partners on credit agreements for the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 projects, ensuring alignment with investment cooperation agreements.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was requested to coordinate with Khanh Hoa province and relevant agencies to report to the Prime Minister on the revocation of Decision No. 1504/QD-TTg dated August 28, 2013, which stipulates mechanisms and policies on compensation, support, relocation and resettlement for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plants, before January 15.

The Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with EVN, was assigned to complete a project on training human resources for nuclear power development. The State Bank of Vietnam was requested to develop payment mechanisms for the construction of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plants.

The Khanh Hoa provincial administration was instructed to complete investment preparation procedures to immediately implement resettlement, relocation and site clearance projects within January, and to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to propose additional central budget support, ensuring payments to affected residents and organizations within the month.

Khanh Hoa province was also required to focus on compensation and resettlement work, expedite the relocation of households, and complete site clearance for handover to investors in the first quarter of 2026. The province must strengthen inspection and supervision to prevent corruption, negativity and waste, and ensure that relocated residents enjoy living conditions equal to or better than their previous ones.

The Prime Minister directed EVN to closely coordinate with the MoIT and relevant agencies in negotiations with the Russian side on investment cooperation for the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant, ensuring completion within January. EVN was also urged to work with the Ministry of Finance and the MoIT to appraise the adjusted pre-feasibility study report for the Ninh Thuan 1 project and promptly submit it to the Prime Minister for approval in accordance with public investment regulations.

EVN was further instructed to closely coordinate with Khanh Hoa province to effectively carry out site clearance, relocation and resettlement for the Ninh Thuan 1 project, and to quickly stabilize livelihoods for resettled households so as not to affect production, business activities or local living standards.

The Prime Minister requested Petrovietnam to proactively coordinate with the MoIT to study and propose options for selecting partners with advanced core technologies suitable for the new context to cooperate in investing in and constructing the Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant, and to report to competent authorities for consideration and decision. Petrovietnam was also asked to work closely with Khanh Hoa province on site clearance and resettlement for the Ninh Thuan 2 project, and to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the MoIT to continue using Japanese technical documentation for the project.

The Prime Minister required the Steering Committee to hold monthly meetings to review and assess project implementation, stressing a spirit of working relentlessly to meet deadlines. He urged ministries, agencies and local authorities to actively implement assigned tasks, ensuring the successful construction of nuclear power plants to serve Vietnam’s development requirements in the new era.