The Dawn of the Peaceful Atom: Prerequisites for the Intergovernmental Agreement and Prospects for Cooperation between the Russian Federation and Vietnam in the Field of Nuclear Energy Use

Abstract

This article examines the current state and future trajectories of the Russian-Vietnamese partnership in nuclear power engineering, with a particular focus on the construction of nuclear power plants (NPPs). The current stage of cooperation between the two countries is reflected in plans to construct Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant, the Ninh Thuan-1 NPP. The impact of the Ninh Thuan-1 NPP on the Vietnamese economy is anticipated to be multifaceted. The article considers the historical roots of bilateral interaction and analyses in detail the key provisions of the Intergovernmental Agreement governing the full scope of activities, from design to spent fuel management and personnel training. Particular attention is driven to the engineering parameters of the Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor unit, its environmental performance and economic viability. The main feature of the VVER-1200 project is the unique combination of active and passive safety systems that make the plant as resistant as possible to external and internal impacts. A forecast assessment is provided of the plant’s impact on Vietnam’s fuel and energy balance, greenhouse gas emission reduction, the development of related industries, and regional infrastructure. The strategic importance of nuclear generation in the context of ESG principles and the green square concept is substantiated. It is concluded that implementation of the project will strengthen Vietnam’s energy security, while enabling the Russian Federation to consolidate its presence in the high-tech Asian market.