The coast of Vinh Truong village, the planned site for the construction of Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant – Photo: AN ANH
In response to this policy, speaking with Tuoi Tre, provincial leaders, engineers studying nuclear power abroad, and local residents believe that investing in a nuclear power project in the province will create many opportunities not only for energy security but also for strong local socio-economic development.
Meet the person who learned about nuclear power
According to the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project was first approved by the National Assembly in 2009. The total planned construction area of Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power plants is 1,642.22 hectares, affecting 1,100 households with nearly 4,000 people.
After announcing the site plan, the province directed the completion of measurement, inventory, and compensation pricing at the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant project site, resettlement areas, and cemeteries, with a total area of 479 hectares/1,029 hectares, and implemented 10 component projects for resettlement.
At the same time, Ninh Thuan province has also sent 88 students to study nuclear technology in the Russian Federation. So far, 44 graduates have returned home and been introduced to jobs by the Vietnam Electricity Group, 29 have found jobs on their own, and 15 have not returned home.
After more than 6 years of studying and researching nuclear power technology in Russia, Mr. Nguyen Nhat Truong (Van Hai ward, Phan Rang - Thap Cham city) has returned to Vietnam and is working at Vinh Tan Thermal Power Plant.
Mr. Truong said that in 2013, he was one of the first students in Ninh Thuan to be sent to Russia to study nuclear power plant design, construction and operation at the Russian National University of Nuclear Research "MEPhI".
In 2016, when there was a policy to temporarily suspend the nuclear power project, he and many other international students were worried but still continued to study with the desire to soon return to contribute to their homeland.
“Now the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project has been restarted, opening up new opportunities for the country’s clean energy source and is a current world trend. I hope the project will soon be implemented and if I have the opportunity, I will contribute with the knowledge I learned right in my hometown,” said Mr. Truong.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Dung, another nuclear power student who returned home in 2021, excitedly said that restarting Ninh Thuan nuclear power will open up new opportunities for many international students to return and contribute to their major.
In addition, the project will also create many new jobs for students and local people in general.
“What we have learned shows that nuclear power technology is very modern, creating an abundant source of energy to serve economic sectors. Therefore, I hope that Vietnam will soon have a nuclear power plant and I myself will be able to contribute to that development,” Ms. Dung shared.
Graphics: TUAN ANH
National renewable energy center
Speaking with Tuoi Tre , Mr. Tran Quoc Nam - Chairman of Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee - said that the Central Government and National Assembly's decision to continue implementing the project to build a nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan is "a great honor for the Party Committee and people of Ninh Thuan province".
“Ninh Thuan will have specific plans and tasks right after the Central Government has a roadmap for the work of the nuclear power plant.
In addition, the province also hopes that central ministries and branches will have policies and mechanisms to support localities in ensuring livelihoods for people in the project area when they move to their new homes, ensuring living, working and production conditions for the people," said Mr. Nam.
The Chairman of Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee added that the province has potential for energy development in general, including renewable energy, which has been identified by the Government as the country's renewable energy center according to Resolution No. 115/NQ-CP dated August 31, 2018.
The province has identified energy as the province's number 1 important pillar industry in planning and developing nuclear power to firmly ensure national energy security and sustainable development, meet the goal of zero net emissions by 2050, gradually build and develop the nuclear power industry, making direct and effective contributions to socio-economic development and enhancing the country's scientific and technological potential.
Ninh Thuan has requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the process of implementing the nuclear power development strategy, to study and propose building Ninh Thuan into a "green, clean industrial center" to create a competitive advantage for Ninh Thuan province as well as for the whole country in socio-economic development.
Mr. Le Kim Hoang - Director of Ninh Thuan Department of Planning and Investment - said that restarting nuclear power will open up new opportunities for Ninh Thuan province in economic development and investment attraction, turning Ninh Thuan into the clean energy center of the country.
Therefore, the industry will urgently advise on adjusting the investment calling plan to ensure it is consistent with the overall planning when there is a nuclear power project.
"The planning adjustment will be carried out in a streamlined manner to ensure progress, and is expected to be completed in 2025 at the earliest," said Mr. Hoang.
Previously, at the working session with General Secretary To Lam and the Central working delegation, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thanh - Secretary of Ninh Thuan Provincial Party Committee - said that implementing the Central Resolution on implementing a number of specific policies and mechanisms to support Ninh Thuan province in socio-economic development, stabilizing production and people's lives in the period of 2018 - 2023, the province has approved the project to stabilize production, people's lives and develop residential areas, land conversion planning to create conditions for stabilizing people's production.
It is important that the province maintains the planned locations, ensuring favorable conditions for restarting the nuclear power project in Ninh Thuan.
Adjust planning accordingly
Ninh Thuan Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Thanh said that Ninh Thuan province also asked for the Central Government's approval to adjust the planning of Ninh Thuan province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, including adding orientations for the development of nuclear power plants.
Speaking at the 22nd session of the 11th Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Council, term 2021 - 2026 (from December 9 to 10), Mr. Pham Van Hau - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Council - emphasized that the restart of the nuclear power project will have a great impact on the socio-economic development plan of Ninh Thuan province in the next 5 years.
Mr. Hau requested the Provincial People's Committee and departments and branches to urgently advise on timely adjustments to issued plans such as land use plans, project development plans, etc. to ensure consistency with the general policy on nuclear power development, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.
People must enjoy the fruits of development.
General Secretary To Lam directed to prepare good conditions to restart the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant project when visiting and working with the Ninh Thuan Provincial Party Committee on December 5.
The General Secretary emphasized that nuclear power is increasingly being chosen and developed by many countries in the world. Vietnam's electricity demand is extremely urgent and is forecast to continue to increase.
Developing nuclear power sources will help diversify supply sources, ensure energy security and green energy transition, helping Vietnam achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at COP26.
Besides, this nuclear power project is also an opportunity for our country to develop high-quality human resources, enhance national science and technology potential, participate in the global nuclear power industry supply chain, and be able to learn and master the world's nuclear technology in the future.
The General Secretary hopes that the people of Ninh Thuan and neighboring localities will share and dedicate resources (land, resources) to develop energy projects to serve the development of the whole country, then they will certainly have to be redistributed and enjoy the worthy fruits of development.
The Party and the State will have to ensure the selection of the best nuclear technologies, the best consulting partners, and the training of the best management personnel to ensure the safe and effective operation of this national energy project, not only for the present generation but also for future generations.
Opportunities when having power plants – lessons from Binh Thuan
Road infrastructure of Vinh Tan commune, Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan is being improved, upgraded and expanded - Photo: DUC TRONG
These days, the main road connecting National Highway 1 to Vinh Phuc and Vinh Tien villages, Vinh Tan commune (Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province) is being busily upgraded.
During rush hours, workers from the Vinh Tan Thermal Power Plant are always bustling with workers coming and going. Restaurants, hotels, and motels have sprung up since the construction of these thermal power plants.
Vinh Tan Thermal Power Center currently has 4 factories operating in Vinh Tan Commune, Tuy Phong District, Binh Thuan Province. Therefore, this is a commune directly affected in all aspects of both environment and economic development.
Chairman of Vinh Tan Commune People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Long said that before the thermal power plants were built, the lives of the people in the commune depended mainly on agriculture, aquaculture, and fishing. At that time, it was very difficult because of the harsh weather. Now these jobs still exist but are gradually decreasing.
Many children in the commune are supported to study and then work in factories, making their economy more stable. In addition, people in the commune also switch to services, trade, and open boarding houses to serve people working at factory construction sites.
According to Mr. Long, the most obvious change in the appearance of the commune is in the infrastructure of roads, schools, medical stations, etc.
“When the factories come into operation, the province will have more stable and main sources of revenue. From there, it will be “leisurely” allocated to the locality to develop infrastructure and renovate schools. Currently, the commune is focusing on upgrading and expanding two roads to Xom Bay and Ham Da to serve people living near the thermal power center,” Mr. Long continued.
Thanks to this result, Mr. Long said that in 2020, Vinh Tan commune achieved the new rural criteria.
Similarly, Mr. Vo Duc Thuan - Vice Chairman of Tuy Phong District People's Committee - said that out of more than 1,400 workers currently working in factories, about 40% are local workers.
"The district's economy is gradually shifting from agriculture to industry, which is also greatly affected by the 40% of workers working in thermal power plants," Mr. Thuan analyzed.
According to Mr. Thuan, since the factory was built, in addition to having stable jobs for their children, many local people have also switched to the service industry to benefit, thereby having stable and higher income.
Mr. Phan Ngoc Cam Thanh - Deputy General Director of Vinh Tan 1 Power Company Limited - said that since it was put into operation 6 years ago, the plant has contributed more than 4,000 billion VND to the budget, of which more than 700 billion VND in 2024 alone.
Currently, the factory has nearly 140 foreign workers and about 600 domestic workers (local children account for 75% of domestic workers).
According to the representative of Vinh Tan 2 Thermal Power Plant, most of the workers here are from Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan.
Mr. Vo Duc Thuan added that in addition to electricity production activities, the factories at the center also accompany the locality in social welfare programs, contributing to the fields of health, education, and traffic infrastructure.
![[Podcast] News on February 21, 2025](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/3/1/95e8ca51488d48cab89fa7526493031f)
Comment (0)