VN approves first nuclear power plants

Published: 26/11/2009 at 01:04 AM
Online news: Breakingnews

Vietnam's Communist-dominated parliament on Wednesday brushed aside criticism and approved building the country's first nuclear power stations, a project keenly watched by potential foreign partners.

A general view of the opening ceremony of the National Assembly in October 2009 in Hanoi. Vietnam's Communist-dominated parliament on Wednesday brushed aside criticism and approved building the country's first nuclear power stations, a project keenly watched by potential foreign partners.

The "draft law on nuclear electricity" was approved by 77 percent of deputies present in the single-chamber national assembly, said one deputy critical of the project, Nguyen Minh Thuyet.

He described debate in the chamber as "lively" as some deputies preferred the idea of building just one power station, rather than the plan finally approved for four reactors at two sites.

According to the government's plans, at least one reactor should be operational from 2020. Together, the four reactors should have a capacity of 4,000 megawatts.

As Thuyet recognised, the project has supporters as there are fears the country will suffer energy shortages in future.

With a booming economy, Vietnam's electricity needs are growing by an estimated 15 percent annually on average. Heavy industry, such as the construction sector, is an especially big energy consumer.

The government plan is that nuclear should initially account for under five percent of Vietnam's electricity capacity, but by 2050 should meet as much as 30 percent of the country's power needs.

Critics have objected that the country lacks workers qualified to operate the plants, that legislation is not adequately developed and that there are holes in the planed security guarantees, notably relating to nuclear waste.

Some deputies have also objected on environmental grounds and particularly at the proposed siting of the plants in the southern province of Ninh Thuan, home to a nature reserve known for its sea turtles.

"Vietnam is not yet ready" for a project that carries "significant risks" and for which "the economic rationale is weak," said Thuyet.

According to the online daily VNExpress, the deputies also approved an initial budget of at least 11 billion dollars for the project.

Several foreign countries have shown interest in participating, including Japan, France, Russia and China, and to a lesser extent South Korea and the United States.

Two weeks ago, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, signed a nuclear cooperation pact. However Dung declined to say which nation would be selected as Vietnam's main nuclear partner.

About the author

: Writer: AFP News agency; Position: Agence France-Presse

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Raptoreyes

Discussion 3 : 26/11/2009 at 03:30 PM3
While not particularly happy that a Marxist country is going to take on the management of a nuclear plant. Vietnam does need the extra energy as fossil sources are in great doubt. Irregardless of what the global warming science says (and recent emails make the motives of the scientists very uncertain), having a diversified power portfolio would be very helpful should any energy market instability develop.

Four thousand megawatts of electrical power suggests a rather large total project. Too bad the Vietnamese didn't consider some of the new "micro nuclear power plants" that are buried which keeps them out of the awareness of cash toting eco-tourists. Some of the "nuclear battery" plants are fully automated and require little to no human intervention, which would render the developing talent to run these plants a non issue.

While the decision of the Vietnamese government to include nuclear power as 30% of its national power portfolio, is a good idea, the route taken to implement this vision is deeply flawed.
thai1932

Discussion 2 : 26/11/2009 at 09:16 AM2
The right step for Viet Nam, and will address the need for the Economic expansion to lower the energy cost for up coming industry, competing among the southeast Asia countries.

IF Southeast Asian countries could agree on the development of the Mae Kong River, there will be MORE THAN ENOUGH energy to meet the need of all Mae Kong Basin members, reducing gas/fuel burning consumption together with lower the CO2 emission. Just look at the US Columbia River, there are more than 13 dams on this river in less than 250 miles stretch producing main source of the energy in the Pacific Northwest states for less cost for big industry like Boeing Company, and Aluminum Alcoa Company.

Thailand should look to the future and find ways for the less cost and effective energy.
Ekk

Discussion 1 : 26/11/2009 at 06:52 AM1
“Uranium Miner” says:
As uranium inventories rapidly deplete worldwide and projected future nuclear energy needs grow, there is an urgent need for new uranium mines and increased production. Recent industry consolidation has limited suppliers, condensed geographical diversity, and currently some existing and planned uranium production facilities are in doubt. Forward looking indicators suggest a uranium demand curve that will surpass supply within the next several years and thus naturally lead to higher projected commodity prices.

“World Nuclear Association” says:
...The current usage of uranium is about 65,000 tU/yr. Thus the world's present "measured" resources of uranium of 5.5 Mt are enough to last for over 80 years (with actually 436 active reactors in the world).

But there are 45 reactors under construction, 112 on order or planned, and 276 proposed.
Future TOTAL: 869 reactors
So the 80 years period delay will be reduced to 40 or 50 or 60 years???

One more bottle neck concerning the world uranium supply:
-The uranium mines production was about 43,000 tons in 2008.
-The total nuclear power plants consumption was about 65,000 tons (for 436 active reactors).
-The difference of about 22,000 tons came from secondary sources such as civilian and military stockpiles, reprocessed fuel and re-enriched uranium.
What that means? Not enough capacity of uranium extraction on the world??????

It seems that the uranium is limited on earth and supplying this combustible to a large number of nuclear power plants could be a delicate issue in the next several years...!

VN approves first nuclear power plants