Vietnam and Russia advance nuclear power deal as energy security concerns grow in Southeast Asia

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam and Russia signed a deal to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam as the Southeast Asian country revives its nuclear plans with hopes of boosting energy security while curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

The deal for the Ninh Thuan 1 plant, reported by Vietnamese state media, comes after two similar projects were shelved in 2016 over rising costs and safety issues.

The agreement was signed Monday during Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s visit to Moscow, where he met his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin. The two countries described the plant as a “symbolic project” of their friendship, according to Vietnam’s official government newspaper.

The new plant also fits with Vietnam’s ambitions to become rich by 2050 by growing into Asia’s next “tiger economy.”

The deal outlines plans to build two Russian-designed reactors with a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts, which are based on an existing plant in Russia.

Concerns over energy security have sharpened since the war in Iran triggered a global energy shortage, raising the cost of imported fossil fuels and adding urgency to Hanoi’s search for stable, long-term power sources.

Across Southeast Asia, fast-growing economies are turning to nuclear power for cleaner, more reliable energy. Advocates say it offers lower emissions than coal, oil and gas, while newer technology has made reactors safer, smaller and cheaper to build.

Beyond nuclear energy, Monday’s meeting in Moscow included discussion of expanding cooperation in oil and gas, technology and infrastructure.

Vietnam and Russia have maintained ties since 1950, rooted in the Cold War. But economic links remain modest. Trade rose from $3.63 billion in 2023 to $4.77 billion in 2025, far below Vietnam’s trade with China and the United States.

Russia remains a key arms supplier, though Hanoi is seeking to diversify.

By Aniruddha Ghosal,  Associated Press

Banner image: The cooling towers of Russia’s Kalinin nuclear power plant. Image by Vsatinet via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)