Special mechanisms and policies are needed
On February 17, continuing the 9th Extraordinary Session of the 15th National Assembly, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on specific mechanisms and policies for investment in the construction of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project.
Speaking at the discussion, delegate Tran Quoc Nam, Chairman of Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, said that according to the direction of the Prime Minister, all site clearance work for the two factories must be completed in 2025 to hand over clean land to the investor.
The province has been carrying out work with the spirit of "do what can be done immediately, do not wait" determined to complete the factories according to the direction of the Central Government and the Prime Minister. However, Mr. Nam acknowledged that site clearance is often a difficult and time-consuming step. If implemented in accordance with the provisions of the law, it will certainly not be completed in a year. Therefore, to complete the project on schedule, in addition to the 7 specific policies proposed by the Government, Ninh Thuan province proposed to add 5 more policies and mechanisms related to site clearance, relocation, compensation and support for people in the project area.
The Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee emphasized that the investment in the nuclear power plant will be truly safe, and people in the relocated project areas will have a good life if the mechanisms and policies proposed by the province are approved.
According to Mr. Duong Khac Mai (Dak Nong Provincial National Assembly Delegation), in addition to potential benefits and positives, the project also faces many risks and challenges. Therefore, to successfully implement the project, Mr. Mai suggested that the Government should direct relevant agencies to study and fully and comprehensively assess risks, be carefully prepared in all aspects, have management policies and solutions for the short term and long term to ensure tightness, transparency, efficiency and sustainability.
Not perfect but not hasty
Explaining further the issues raised by delegates, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that this is a project with complex technology and only a few countries own it, with a huge demand for investment capital. "Due to the complex nature of the project and being built for the first time in our country, to ensure the completion goal in 2030-2031, it is necessary to have specific mechanisms and policies that are strong enough as in the draft Resolution to speed up progress and shorten implementation time" - Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized.
Regarding the scope of regulation, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that the Government only proposed specific mechanisms and policies under the authority of the National Assembly to be applied to 5 working groups, including: Selecting investors and contractors; preparing and implementing investment; financial mechanisms and arranging investment capital; standards, regulations, technical guidance and norms, unit prices and relocation, resettlement, ensuring social security in the project area... Regarding the time of passing the Resolution, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that the Government should consider and approve the Resolution on specific mechanisms and policies for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project at this session to immediately serve as a basis for implementation, taking advantage of favorable conditions, spirit and difficulties in the process, quickly implementing the project, and speeding up the implementation of the project's work to overcome the project's tasks.
With a spirit of openness, urgency but not haste, after the discussion session, we pledged to closely coordinate with the examining agency, thoroughly grasp the instructions of senior leaders, carefully study and absorb the opinions of National Assembly deputies to the maximum. The draft Resolution will be finalized and submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the end of the session, creating a basis for project implementation" - the Minister affirmed. During the project implementation, if new issues arise or these mechanisms and policies need to be amended or supplemented, the Government will continue to study and propose to competent authorities for consideration and decision.
