Phuc G. Dao

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Vietnam’s revived nuclear power program creates an environmental economics problem because accident externalities, restoration obligations, and delayed compensation can shift costs from operators to affected communities, ecosystems, and public budgets. This study aims to assess the environmental and economic risk allocation and compensation readiness of Vietnam’s post-2025 nuclear liability framework against modern international nuclear liability benchmarks. A doctrinal and comparative method is applied to Law No. 94/2025/QH15, Decree No. 332/2025/ND-CP, Decision No. 768/QD-TTg, the 1997 Vienna Convention, and IAEA materials, using legal and policy data for 2025–2026 updated through April 2026. The results show that Vietnam fully aligns with five of seven benchmark elements and partially aligns with two. The aligned elements perform four economic functions: channeling concentrates claims and insurance demand in one operator; strict liability internalizes prevention and accident costs; seven compensable heads cover death, health injury, property loss, direct economic loss, environmental restoration, environmental-use income loss, preventive measures, and residual economic loss; and 30-year/10-year limitation periods protect latent claims. The monetary architecture requires 150 million SDR of operator financial security for nuclear power plants, 5 million SDR for other installations and transport, a 300 million SDR total compensation floor per incident, and a state top-up for shortfalls. The terrorism defense and missing treaty-based cross-border procedure remain partial gaps. The study concludes that Vietnam has a domestic platform for cost internalization, but full environmental and economic compensation readiness depends on treaty accession, valuation rules for environmental damage, and operational financing of claims.

Acknowledgment
This research is funded by University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.