The Ministry of Industry and Trade is seeking comments on the draft adjustment of the National Power Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 (Power Plan 8).

Notably, in the section on assessing the potential for developing large-scale nuclear power plants in Vietnam, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed 8 potential locations in 5 provinces in Decision No. 906/QD-TTg dated June 17, 2010 of the Prime Minister on the Master Plan for Nuclear Power Development, including:

1. Vinh Truong village, Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, Ninh Thuan province.
2. Thai An village, Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province.
3. Lo Dieu Village, Hoai My Commune, Hoai Nhon District, Binh Dinh Province.
4. Vung La, Phu Hai village, Xuan Phuong commune, Song Cau district, Phu Yen province.
5. Son Tinh village, Ky Xuan commune, Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh province.
6. Cha La Beach, Binh Tien village, Cong Hai commune, Thuan Bac district, Ninh Thuan.
7. Gia Hoa village, Duc Thang commune, Mo Duc district, Quang Ngai province.
8. Van Ban village, Duc Chanh commune, Mo Duc district, Quang Ngai province.

Each of the above locations has the potential to develop about 4-6 GW of nuclear power.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, it is possible to consider building nuclear power plants in 3 regions: South Central Coast (about 25-30 GW), Central Central Coast (about 10 GW) and North Central Coast (about 4-5 GW).

Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant.jpg
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ninh Thuan has up to 3 locations that can build large-scale nuclear power plants. Photo: Xuan Ngoc

Currently, only two locations, Phuoc Dinh and Vinh Hai, have announced plans to build nuclear power plants. Several other potential locations (two in Quang Ngai and one in Binh Dinh) are being considered for the development of four large-scale nuclear power units.

However, due to the lack of published planning, after 10 years these locations need to be reviewed and re-evaluated because there may be many socio-economic fluctuations and economic development in the areas.

Regarding the construction of small-scale nuclear power plants (SMRs), the Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that site selection is an important step in integrating SMRs into the regional energy system. This process will have a significant impact on construction costs, environmental health, safety and other aspects throughout its operational life.

Additionally, there are many SMR designs under development at various stages around the world.

In Vietnam, there are no legal regulations on site requirements for SMR reactors. In the absence of specific guidance on site selection for SMRs, implementation must comply with current regulations on site requirements for large-scale nuclear power plants.

Previously, on November 25, 2024, the 13th Party Central Committee Conference agreed on the policy of restarting the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project and continuing to research the nuclear power program in Vietnam.

The two previous Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power projects have been completed by the Design Consultant for F/S, but have not been approved. Therefore, the project includes the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power projects in the scenario with the Government's nuclear power development policy.

Nuclear power sources (including small-scale SMR nuclear power) must be located in potential locations due to special issues related to safety, regional geology and nuclear waste disposal.

Accordingly, the project only calculates for potential locations approved in Decision No. 906 of the Prime Minister on the Planning for Nuclear Power Development.

Recently, at the second meeting of the Steering Committee for the construction of nuclear power plants, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) as the investor of Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant, and the National Energy Industry Group (PVN) as the investor of Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant. At the same time, he requested to strive to complete the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project before December 31, 2030.

Minister of Industry and Trade: Vietnam has 13-14 locations that can build nuclear power plants . Emphasizing that Vietnam has about 13-14 locations that can build nuclear power plants, the Minister of Industry and Trade noted that several thousand engineers and technical staff are needed, so human resources must be well prepared.