French leading corporations propose nuclear power, high-speed rail cooperation in Vietnam

THE HANOI TIMES — Major French corporations have expressed interest in participating in nuclear power projects, developing high-speed rail, and cooperating in the aerospace industry in Vietnam.

At the meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 11, Chairman and CEO of energy group EDF Bernard Fontana conveyed the corporation’s interest in collaborating with Vietnam on nuclear energy, renewable energy, as well as other areas such as telecommunications and artificial intelligence. EDF affirmed its readiness to support Vietnam by leveraging its strengths in technology and human resource development.

Chinh, who is currently on a state visit to France, welcomed EDF’s proposals and encouraged the company to coordinate with Vietnamese partners to implement the collaborations. Regarding the nuclear power project, Chinh asked EDF to discuss matters related to technology, financing, and workforce training in detail with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant stakeholders.

Vietnam is reviving the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, which is expected to be completed within five years. Ninh Thuan 1 will be located in Phuoc Dinh Commune, Thuan Nam District, and Ninh Thuan 2 in Vinh Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and PetroVietnam (PVN) will be the respective investors for the two plants.

By 2030, Vietnam will need about 4,000 personnel to operate the two nuclear power plants. The first plant is expected to be commissioned by 2030 or by the end of 2031 at the latest.

EDF is a multinational energy company that is majority-owned by the French government. It is the world's first electricity producer to achieve zero direct CO₂ emissions, and it is a global leader in nuclear energy operation and renewable energy production.

EDF built the Phu My 2 thermal power plant (715 MW) in Vietnam in 2005, one of the country’s first BOT (build-operate-transfer) power projects. In 2018, EDF partnered with Pacific Corporation (Vietnam), Sojitz Corporation, and Kyushu Electric (Japan) to build the 2,250 MW Son My 1 gas power plant, which is expected to begin operating in 2030.

On the same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Henri Poupart-Laffarge, the CEO of Alstom, who expressed interest in accelerating Phase 2 of the Hanoi Metro Line 3 and the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 2 projects, as well as other urban railway projects, by 2035.

Alstom expressed interest in participating in Vietnam’s high-speed rail project and willingness to share technology and cooperate with Vietnamese businesses to develop the national rail industry. In response, the prime minister emphasized that cooperation with France is integral to Vietnam’s railway development strategy. He requested that Alstom work with the Ministry of Construction and other relevant agencies to advance these projects.

Alstom is one of the world’s leading providers of transportation solutions and has experience working on Hanoi’s urban railway projects. Chinh urged future cooperation to be more rapid and effective, requesting support in technology transfer, concessional financing, and workforce training for Vietnam’s rail sector.

Also on June 11, Chinh visited the French National Railway Company (SNCF). SNCF is a state-owned enterprise and one of the world’s leading railway operators and infrastructure managers, with more than 80 years of experience. SNCF and its French counterparts affirmed their readiness to support Vietnam in developing its railway infrastructure, especially its high-speed rail projects.

The prime minister also met with leaders of the Thales Group, who proposed collaborating on telecommunications satellite projects, including the Vinasat-3 satellite.

During his meeting with Wouter van Wersch, president of Airbus, Chinh discussed potential collaborations in space technology, particularly in providing advanced optical satellite solutions. Airbus also offered to support Vietnam in adopting energy-efficient, environmentally friendly aviation fuels and developing artificial intelligence applications.

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France were established on April 12, 1973. In 2013, they elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership, and in October 2024, they upgraded it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. France is the first EU country to reach the highest level of diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Bilateral trade reached $5.42 billion in 2024, up nearly 13% from the previous year.