Prime Minister assigns EVN, PVN as investors of Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power projects

The Steering Committee for the construction of Vietnam's nuclear power plant held its second meeting.

At the meeting, the Steering Committee reviewed the tasks assigned after the first meeting and discussed and gave opinions on the plan to implement the construction of the nuclear power plant.

Specifically, clearly define the goals, roadmap; tasks that members of the Steering Committee, each ministry, sector, and locality must perform in infrastructure development, resettlement, technology transfer, and human resource training; identify investors, capital sources, policy mechanisms, and problems and difficulties that need to be resolved...

According to reports and opinions at the meeting, many tasks have been implemented after the first meeting (January 15) of the Steering Committee. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is reviewing and adjusting the Power Plan VIII, including adding the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project and researching and planning the development of new nuclear power plants; reporting to competent authorities for the policy of renegotiating with foreign partners.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is proposing to amend the Law on Atomic Energy; developing a special national science and technology research program on nuclear technology and safety; developing a plan for training and fostering human resources to serve nuclear power development.

Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee has established the Provincial Steering Committee and a working group to assist the Steering Committee and issued a plan to implement the province's tasks...

Strive to complete before December 31, 2030:

"Developing nuclear power and building nuclear power plants - key national projects are big issues, national affairs, difficult and sensitive issues, so it requires focus, investment of effort and intelligence, and the entire political system must be mobilized", in the concluding remark, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said.

The Prime Minister commended and requested the members of the Steering Committee, ministries, branches, agencies, and localities to continue to work urgently in implementing the project, develop a 5-year plan and an annual plan, and complete specific tasks by each milestone.

On the other hand, it is required to urgently complete and add more members to the Steering Committee and establish a Working Group at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including experts, operating according to the motto of streamlining, closeness, and professionalism.

Regarding the law, the Ministry of Science and Technology will preside over the completion of the draft Law amending and supplementing the Law on Atomic Energy to submit to the National Assembly at the 9th session, ensuring speed and quality; in the direction that what is clear, proven to be correct in practice, effectively implemented, and agreed by the majority will be included in the law for continued implementation. At the same time, updating new content suitable to the current context, situation, and conditions, and issues that are unclear or have changed will be handed over to the Government for appropriate regulations and guidance. In the spirit of promoting decentralization and delegation of authority associated with appropriate resource allocation, improving implementation capacity, enhancing individual and collective responsibility, reducing administrative procedures, eliminating the request-grant mechanism, and assigning enterprises to do whatever they can.

Regarding specific mechanisms and policies (such as land, resettlement, livelihoods for people, total land use area, contractor appointment, shortening time, etc.), all ministries and branches should propose any mechanism or policy that can be implemented fastest and most conveniently before February 15. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is the standing agency of the Steering Committee and must synthesize and report to the Government, propose to competent authorities, and submit to the National Assembly at the 9th session.

Regarding progress, the Prime Minister stated: The project completion time must be shortened compared to the previous plan, by December 31, 2031, at the latest and strive to complete before December 31, 2030, on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the founding of the country and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party. Ministries, branches, localities, and agencies must develop progress according to this goal.

The Prime Minister assigned EVN to be the investor of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project and PVN to be the investor of the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant project.

Regarding the selection of foreign partners to participate in the project, the Prime Minister stated: Implementing the Central Committee's Conclusion, the National Assembly's Resolution, and the Politburo's direction; requesting EVN, PVN and agencies to send working delegations to negotiate with foreign partners in February, paying attention to having backup partners to be ready in all situations.

The determination of scale, capacity, and total investment of the plants are determined based on negotiations with partners and updated by the new situation for competent authorities to consider and decide.

Regarding human resources, the Prime Minister requested that it is necessary to urgently review and gather people who have been trained in the field of nuclear power and related fields, provide additional training, and have mechanisms and policies to attract human resources, which is necessary to pay attention to the commander in chief and chief engineer of the project.

The Prime Minister directed the allocation of capital for the project, including the use of reserve capital for 2025 and the immediate completion of procedures to use this capital before February 15. "The selection of contractors (whether by appointment or bidding) is most important for the common good, ensuring publicity, transparency, and preventing corruption and negativity," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Welcoming Ninh Thuan province for establishing a Provincial Steering Committee to carry out tasks under the province's authority, the Prime Minister requested Immediate deployment site clearance and resettlement work. The Ministry of Finance shall allocate sufficient budget to complete the relocation and stabilize the housing for people by 2025, ensuring that the new housing is better than the old one. At the same time, Ninh Thuan province urgently calls for public-private partnership, attracting investment... to exploit Thanh Son airport for civil purposes.

Request the Ministry of Industry and Trade to urgently submit the draft of the adjusted PDP VIII related to nuclear power to be completed before February 28, 2025. Note that the planning work must look at the overall national interests, ensuring fairness, social progress, and appropriate balance between localities and regions, but with priority given to arranging key energy projects in difficult areas.

The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deploy cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Ministry of Planning and Investment must promptly appraise procedures and propose mechanisms and policies. The Ministry of Finance will arrange reserve funds according to legal regulations, if necessary, in advance, especially capital for Ninh Thuan province to clear land and resettle. The Ministry of Education and Training will calculate human resource training for the project. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for appraising environmental issues related to the project.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, together with relevant ministries, branches, and corporations, should do a good job of communication and propaganda, ensuring publicity and transparency for people to monitor and create consensus in public opinion.

Emphasizing the importance of time, intelligence and timely decisiveness as decisive factors for success, the Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son to continue to directly direct the work and organize monthly meetings to review, deploy and urge tasks, with the spirit of clearly defining the person, clearly defining the work, clearly defining the time, clearly defining the responsibility and clearly defining the results./.

Sourced: VGP