On 11/12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a phone call with Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, to discuss cooperation in developing the nuclear energy industry, including the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant.

Rosatom, a leading group in nuclear energy with a long history of cooperation with Vietnam, affirmed its commitment. According to Likhachev, the group will boost cooperation to implement high-level agreements between the two countries.

Rosatom will transfer technology and localize nuclear products for Vietnam. It will also support Vietnam's development of nuclear science and industry for peaceful purposes and socio-economic advancement. The group pledged to cooperate with Vietnamese partners to build a nuclear power plant using the most modern technology, along with some other projects.

"Immediately, Rosatom will send a working delegation to Vietnam to implement cooperation initiatives," he stated.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds a phone call with the Director General of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, 11/12. Photo: VGP

Vietnam has restarted the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, which is expected to be completed in 5 years. The Ninh Thuan 1 plant will be located in Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, while the Ninh Thuan 2 plant will be in Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district. Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) are the respective investors for these two plants.

Recently, Vietnam and the Russian Federation have conducted technical negotiations to finalize an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation for the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant. The Prime Minister has met with both the President and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, with both sides affirming their determination to accelerate cooperation and ensure the early implementation of projects to meet Vietnam's development needs during this critical period.

During the call, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged the significant contributions of the Russian Federation and the former Soviet Union to Vietnam's energy sector, particularly in peaceful atomic energy. They trained many generations of leading scientists and experts, establishing an important foundation for the current development of Vietnam's atomic energy field.

The Prime Minister affirmed Vietnam's high regard for its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the Russian Federation, considering it one of its top priority partners. Vietnam seeks continued substantive and effective cooperation with Russia in all sectors, including peaceful atomic energy, for the mutual benefit of two nations and for regional and global stability and development.

The Prime Minister urged Rosatom to continue cooperation and support Vietnam on key strategic projects such as the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant and the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center. He stressed focusing on resolving outstanding issues to sign intergovernmental agreements and accords for project implementation.

Additionally, he requested human resource training, enhanced governance, and state management capacity in atomic energy. He also called for investment cooperation with Vietnam in other important civilian atomic energy applications, such as nuclear medicine and irradiation.

The Prime Minister assigned relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate with Russia and Rosatom to implement specific tasks, operating under the principle of "harmonized benefits, shared risks," while complying with the laws of both countries and international conventions to which both are signatories.

Phuong Dung