Vietnam is expected to invest USUS$3.4 billion in building its first nuclear power plant in the central province of Ninh Thuan. The 2,000-MW plant is scheduled to start generating electricity some time between 2017 and 2020.
"We have recently submitted to the government a pre-feasibility study on constructing a 2,000-MW nuclear power plant either in Ninh Phuoc or Ninh Hai (two districts of Ninh Thuan). Total investment stands at USUS$3.4 billion, said Tran Thanh Lien, chief of the International Cooperation Department under the Vietnam Institute of Energy.
Lien said Vietnam would need some 230 billion kWh of electricity in 2020, but domestic primary sources could turn out only 165 billion kWh, and renewable sources such as wind and solar energy some 5 billion kWh. Therefore, the country would have to import electricity at output of 20 billion kWh, import coal to feed its thermoelectric plants and develop nuclear energy to generate the remainder of 40 billion kWh, he stated.
"Because the nuclear power plant will generate only 14 billion kWh, or even the output doubles (28 billion kWh), we'll still face power shortage in 2020. So, we plan to import electricity and some 4-5 million tonnes of coal to feed our thermoelectric plants," he said, noting that Vietnam will import electricity with output of 2,000 MW from Laos, and 1,000 MW from China and Cambodia each.
On average, it takes a developing country 3-4 years to reach broad consensus on nuclear energy development and make pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, 2-3 years to wrap up tender procedure and equipment production, and 5-6 years to finish construction of a plant. To facilitate the process of building its first nuclear power plant, Vietnam will organize more international seminars on nuclear power issues, especially those regarding technology, training and public awareness. "We will hold a seminar on nuclear energy's safety and economic aspects in the first quarter of 2006, said Le Van Hong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission. More nuclear energy exhibitions will also be held next year to gain stronger public acceptance of the energy, he added.
Vietnam and France have organized several seminars on selecting location and technology for the nuclear power plant, building relevant legal documents, and manpower training. At a seminar held in Hanoi in mid-October, Jean Claude Frappier, representative from the French Atomic Energy Commission, said France was willing to give Vietnam stronger support in nuclear energy, including human resource development and legal document compilation. Japan has also expressed its deep interest nuclear power development in Vietnam. However, Vietnam has not chosen a foreign partner for its nuclear power project. Most potential foreign partners are France, the United States, Japan, Russia, Canada and South Korea.
Vietnam's sole nuclear reactor in Da Lat city in the central highlands province of Lam Dong has a capacity of just 500 kW, and is used for training and research purposes. The reactor, built in early 1960s by the former regime of Saigon with assistance from the United States, had underwent almost no operations until 1983, said Nguyen Nhi Dien, Director of the Nuclear Research Institute.
"Since having resumed operation with a capacity of 500 kW in 1983, the reactor has been mainly used for research purposes, especially medical ones. Its products are used to diagnose and treat fatal diseases like cancer. Now, 104 fuel rods are in the reactor," he noted.
Dong Phong
Vietnamese
