Japan has withdrawn from plans to help build a major nuclear power plant in Vietnam after determining that the project timeline was too tight, according to the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam (Reuters, 08/12/2025)
According to him, Japan is not in a position to proceed with the Ninh Thuan 2 project, which had been designed with a planned capacity of 2 to 3.2 GW. Under Vietnam’s energy roadmap, Ninh Thuan 2 was expected to be commissioned around 2035, alongside Ninh Thuan 1, also planned to have a 2-3.2 GW capacity.
After Vietnam revived its nuclear program in 2024, it asked Japan and Russia to implement the two projects. However, following a series of meetings with Vietnamese officials, Japan decided in November 2025 to withdraw, concluding that the required completion deadline was no longer achievable. Vietnam had expected to sign agreements with its foreign partners in September (for Ninh Thuan 1) and December (for Ninh Thuan 2), but no contracts had been finalized.
The ambassador added that Japan is still considering opportunities to participate in future nuclear developments in Vietnam, particularly through small modular reactors (SMRs). Meanwhile, French, South Korean, and US investors have expressed interest in the Ninh Thuan projects, according to several Vietnamese and international officials.
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