National Assembly Adopts Resolution to Separate Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project into Independent Projects

Under the Resolution, the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project will be separated into three independent projects:

1. The compensation, support and resettlement project for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plants;

2. The Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant Project;

3. The Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant Project.

Following the separation, the projects will make use of the data and results of previously approved work to ensure continuity and avoid waste.

Before the National Assembly voted on the draft Resolution, Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan, on behalf of the Government and the drafting body, presented a report explaining and incorporating comments on the draft Resolution and outlining the revisions made to the draft.

Approval of investment policies following the separation

Regarding the authority to decide on or approve the investment policy for each project following the separation, Minister Ngo Van Tuan said that, under the Law on Public Investment and the Law on Investment, nuclear power plant projects fall under the Prime Minister’s authority for approval of their investment policies.

For the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power projects, if special mechanisms and policies falling under the authority of the National Assembly are proposed, the authority to approve the investment policies will rest with the National Assembly. The relevant procedures will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on public investment or the law on investment, as applicable.

Regarding the implementation of new procedures for approval of the investment policies, rather than procedures for adjusting the existing investment policy of each project following the separation, Minister Ngo Van Tuan explained that National Assembly Resolution No. 41/2009/QH12 on the investment policy for the project was issued in 2009, before the Law on Public Investment took effect.

Accordingly, the Resolution did not fully establish the investment policy for the project. It also did not provide for component projects and did not identify the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power projects by name. Therefore, there is insufficient legal basis to carry out procedures to adjust the investment policies for these two projects.

This is one of the difficulties and obstacles underlying the need to separate the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project into independent projects and carry out the procedures for approving the investment policies of the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power projects after their separation.

The Government reported the above matter to the Politburo, which agreed in principle on measures to address the difficulties and obstacles.

Coordination and unified management of the three projects

Regarding mechanisms for coordination, management and ensuring consistency among the three projects following their separation, Minister Ngo Van Tuan said that the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 72/QD-TTg in 2025 establishing the Steering Committee for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants, and subsequently consolidated its membership under Decision No. 1689/QD-TTg in 2025.

Under these decisions, the Steering Committee is tasked with studying, directing and coordinating the resolution of important inter-sectoral issues related to the construction of nuclear power plants.

The Resolution provides an important legal basis for carrying out the procedures for approving the investment policies of the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power projects after the National Assembly adopts the resolution separating the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project into three independent projects.

The Government will continue to direct the strengthening and consolidation of the Steering Committee for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants to ensure unified and comprehensive management, coordination and implementation across the three projects following their separation.

Taking into account comments from National Assembly deputies, the Government added a provision to the draft Resolution assigning the Government to direct the implementation of the independent projects following their separation. This includes ensuring the project schedule and the availability of resources for implementation; establishing mechanisms for management, coordination and unified implementation; ensuring the consistent and efficient use of shared technical infrastructure; and clearly defining responsibilities for nuclear safety and security, environmental protection, and national defense and security.

Transitional arrangements and the validity of Resolution No. 41/2009/QH12

Regarding the completion of transitional arrangements, the termination of the validity of Resolution No. 41/2009/QH12, and the review of special mechanisms and policies, Minister Ngo Van Tuan said that, taking into account comments from National Assembly deputies, the Government had revised the draft Resolution to provide that once the competent authority approves the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Project, the Government will report to the National Assembly on the termination of the validity of Resolution No. 41/2009/QH12.

Accordingly, once the competent authority approves the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Project, the Government will take into account the approved investment policy of the project, the investment preparation status of the Ninh Thuan 2 project, and other actual conditions before reporting to the National Assembly on the termination of the validity of Resolution No. 41/2009/QH12, thereby ensuring that no legal gap arises.

Regarding transitional arrangements, taking into account comments from National Assembly deputies, the Government has also finalized the draft Resolution with the following provision: “Following their separation into independent projects, the managing agencies and investors of the projects may use relevant data and the results of work previously undertaken to continue implementation in accordance with the law”.

The National Assembly’s adoption of the Resolution to separate the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project into independent projects provides a legal basis for each project to be implemented independently, allowing the relevant procedures to proceed without being dependent on one another and helping accelerate their implementation./.