Encouraging private enterprises to invest in small-scale nuclear power

Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has signed and issued Resolution No. 253/2025/QH15 on national energy development mechanisms and policies for the period 2026 - 2030.

This Resolution stipulates mechanisms and policies for national energy development in the period of 2026 - 2030, including: adjusting and updating the power development plan, power supply network development plan in the provincial planning; investing in the construction of power projects; developing offshore wind power; directly buying and selling electricity; investing in the construction of oil and gas projects and works, coal.

Regarding investment in the construction of power grid projects, the resolution clearly states that power grid investment projects in the power development plan and power supply network development plans in the provincial planning do not have to carry out procedures for approving investment policies.

Regarding the selection of investors for power business investment projects, in addition to cases prescribed by law on electricity, law on investment, and law on land, cases of approval of investors who do not approve auction of land use rights, bidding to select investors include:

The project to invest in the construction, upgrading and renovation of national and regional power system control centers under the national power system control unit.

Offshore wind power projects as prescribed in this Resolution; in case the investor is approved to negotiate the right to use land to implement an investment project in electricity business in accordance with the provisions of the law on land and the law on investment.

In case the investor has the right to use land allocated by the State, leased land, or recognized land use rights, he/she shall propose to implement an investment project for electricity business in accordance with the provisions of the law on land.

Power projects with urgent requirements must be implemented immediately to ensure progress and energy security in cases of applying investor selection in special cases according to the provisions of the law on bidding.

Based on the proposal of an enterprise with 100% state capital or an enterprise with 100% charter capital, within 30 days from the date of receipt of the proposal, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall consider and decide on the approval of the investor of the power grid project in the power development plan or provincial planning.

Regarding the development of small-scale nuclear power, small-scale nuclear power is a nuclear power plant using small-scale nuclear reactors (Small Mod reactor) as defined and classified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Resolution also encourages state-owned and private enterprises to participate in research and investment in the development of small-scale nuclear power.

The development of small-scale nuclear power must ensure nuclear security and safety, in accordance with the provisions of the law on nuclear power and other relevant laws.

For each period, based on development needs and technology commercialization, the Government issued an investment mechanism for developing small-scale nuclear power.

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