Hanoi wants to build two stations in central province of Ninh Thuan
Vietnam is planning hold talks with potential foreign partners this month about developing its first two nuclear power stations after the government formally approved a plan with the aim of having a reactor online in the next decade.
The Southeast Asian launched a regulatory framework, and plans to establish human resources and research infrastructure needed to develop nuclear energy by 2030, according to a statement on a government website.
According to the statement, the “plan for development and application of atomic energy for the period up to 2030, with a vision to 2050” was signed by Vietnam’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Bui Thanh Son.
According to the statement, the “plan for development and application of atomic energy for the period up to 2030, with a vision to 2050” was signed by Vietnam’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Bui Thanh Son.
State utility EVN and oil and gas firm PetroVietnam have been assigned as the investors for the first two stations, the government said in a statement.
It also said in a draft amendment to its energy plan that the first nuclear plant could be in operation “from 2035 at the earliest”.
Hanoi will discuss the projects with Russia, Japan, South Korea, France and the US, according to state media.
The country’s planned nuclear programme will involve building two nuclear power stations with a combined capacity of 4,000 MW in the central province of Ninh Thuan.
Original Plans Rejected On Cost Grounds
Vietnam had planned the two stations as far back as 2009, but the National Assembly rejected the proposal in 2016 on cost grounds.
The proposed plants were planned to be built by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Japan Atomic Power Company.
In December, lawmakers asked the government to resume the development of the nuclear power programme after a vote on 30 November, according to the official government news portal.
The central committee of the communist party of Vietnam had already agreed to restarting Hanoi’s nuclear programme.
The government estimates that power consumption will reach 1,200 TWh by 2045 compared to 1,000 TWh in the eight national power development plan, which provides targets for 2030 and “a vision” towards net-zero in 2050.
According to a report by accountancy company PwC, Vietnam’s expected economic growth over the next three decades means a need for 150 GW in installed capacity by 2030, and 500 GW by 2050, from about 80 GW today.
