When will the nuclear power project be implemented in Vietnam?

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, restoring investment and developing nuclear power aims to ensure energy security and must be absolutely safe.

In Draft Electricity Law (amended), the Government proposes that the State monopolize and the Prime Minister prescribes a special mechanism for implementing investment, construction and operation of nuclear power plants.

Regarding this issue, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the afternoon of October 23, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said that the policy of investing in nuclear power development has been proposed by the Government and assigned to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for research.

“If the competent State agency agrees on the policy, there will be specific procedures for investing in nuclear power,” he said, affirming that the policy of developing nuclear power was proposed in 2009, but then paused. Based on the Power Plan VIII, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is re-studying, understanding the reality and practical needs to report back to the Government.

According to the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade: The current trend of countries developing nuclear power is due to the need for energy, but the lack of base electricity makes it necessary to develop nuclear power. "The pressure of renewable energy makes the need for base electricity very important. Therefore, countries are researching to double or triple the output and scale of nuclear power. From the experience of Japan and France - we estimate that the proportion of nuclear power must account for 20% -25% of their electricity output", the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade said.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade answers a series of “hot” issues about nuclear power. Photo: Anh Tuan

Regarding safety, Mr. Tan said that the world has developed nuclear power at the 3rd and 4th technological stages, and the technologies have been applied practically, ensuring maximum safety and a risk level of 0. "We are researching and have found several suitable technologies," said the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade.

In response to the question: If approved, when is the electricity industry expected to have a nuclear power project; when will it be implemented and completed, and will there be electricity output from the nuclear power plant? - Mr. Tan said: "We are asking for approval, reporting to competent authorities, especially the Ministry of Science and Technology. When competent State agencies approve, then there will be enough basis to continue implementation; then we can calculate the investment level, cycle, determine demand... Only then can we determine which year we will have a nuclear power project and electricity output".

Also on the issue of nuclear power, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung - Deputy Director, Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed: The development of nuclear power ensures socio-economic development, so since 2009, research has been conducted to develop nuclear power. However, Vietnam has many difficulties in human resources and finance, so there is a resolution to temporarily suspend Ninh Thuan nuclear power.

"Currently, there are many positive changes in the world and in the country, so the Government has directed the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Science and Technology to research and develop nuclear power in the world. The Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that development in the coming time is very necessary, ensuring energy security and sustainable development. How to develop will be carefully studied and comprehensively evaluated in the VIII power plan.

Regarding the specific project, Mr. Hung informed: After receiving approval from competent authorities, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will propose the next procedures.

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