"Difficult to choose alternative" locations if building nuclear power in Vietnam

These locations are assessed as potential and safe, have been carefully researched, and are unlikely to have alternative locations - according to the 2022 National Assembly Economic Committee's monitoring report.

Ninh Thuan was selected after meeting strict criteria.

On November 25, 2009, the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 41/2009/NQ-QH12 on investment policy for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project.

However, at the Second Session, the 14th National Assembly issued Resolution No. 31/2016/QH14 on stopping the implementation of the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project, effective from November 22, 2016.

Now, research on restarting nuclear power projects is being considered. The draft Electricity Law (amended) has also just updated the direction of nuclear power development.

Nuclear power is a source of electricity that emits fewer greenhouse gases. Illustration: Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images

At this time, the location for the nuclear power plant was also mentioned. Previously, Ninh Thuan was chosen as the location for 2 nuclear power plants.

The planned construction sites for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Plants have undergone a long-term research process and careful selection, meeting strict international criteria. The monitoring report on the implementation of Resolution No. 31/2016/QH14 of the National Assembly on stopping the implementation of the investment policy for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project in the 2016-2021 period, prepared by the National Assembly's Economic Committee in 2022, clearly mentioned this strict selection process.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the process of selecting a location to build a nuclear power plant includes the following three stages:

Step 1 - Search and explore the location

Step 2 - Site Evaluation

Step 3: Additional research before and after operation.

Phase 1, the process of searching and exploring locations, includes 3 phases: Phase 1 - Analyzing the area and selecting potential locations (implemented in the period 1996-2000); Phase 2 - Screening potential locations and selecting candidate locations; Phase 3 - Comparing and prioritizing candidate locations (implemented in the period 2001-2007).

Many strict criteria of IAEA such as power supply range; power system for construction; cooling water source; additional fresh water source; construction site; faults; earthquakes; volcanoes; storms; tornadoes; tsunamis; floods; prevailing wind direction; transportation system; distance to airport; distance to military zones, chemical warehouses; resettlement and compensation; type of construction land and local support...

To carry out the site assessment, the two partners, the E4 - KIEP - EPT consulting consortium and JAPC consulting, have carried out activities for many years. Results: Phase 1 identified 20 potential sites in 11 provinces.

After comparison, evaluation and ranking, 10 locations in 7 provinces were selected. Finally, 8 locations in 6 provinces were selected (according to Decision No. 906/QD-TTg dated June 17, 2010 of the Prime Minister approving the planning orientation for nuclear power development in Vietnam until 2030).

In which, Vinh Truong village, Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district and Thai An village, Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district of Ninh Thuan province have been thoroughly researched and surveyed by relevant units and foreign partners for a long time and met the strict requirements of the IAEA.

The selection of locations is also very expensive. From 2010 to 2015, the cost of conducting feasibility studies and site assessments for each location was more than 30 million USD, provided by the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Japan to Vietnam in the form of non-refundable aid.

During the period 2011-2015, the work related to the location began to move to phase 2 - Site assessment phase; Vietnam Electricity Group signed a contract with the partners, the E4 - KIEP - EPT consulting consortium (Russian Federation) and Japan Atomic Power Corporation (JAPC) to implement the preparation of the site approval dossier (SAD) and Investment Project (FS) for the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant projects. The contract implementation cost is also included in the non-refundable aid.

According to Report No. 80/BC-UBND dated April 1, 2022 of the People's Committee of Ninh Thuan province, the total planned area for the construction of nuclear power plants is 1,642.22 hectares (over 90% of which is agricultural land), the population in the construction area is 3,717 people/1,063 households.

What will happen to these locations after the nuclear power project is suspended?

According to the monitoring report, implementing Resolution No. 31/2016/QH14, the Government has adjusted the land use planning until 2020 (Resolution 113/NQ-CP dated August 30, 2018) for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant area to the land use planning for renewable energy development; the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant area maintains the current land use status. Up to now, the planning of the construction site of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant according to the decisions of the Ministry of Industry and Trade is still valid.

"It is necessary to determine that the cancellation of the Decisions related to the approval of construction sites for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Projects will be understood by domestic partners and public opinion as a complete termination of the nuclear power development program in Ninh Thuan, while these locations are assessed as potential and safe, have been carefully studied, and it is difficult to choose alternative locations," the monitoring report noted.

The National Assembly's Economic Committee then proposed that the Government consider temporarily suspending the Planning for the proposed locations for the construction of Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant 1 and 2 until the competent authority makes an official decision on this issue.

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