Russia to help in Vietnam civil nuclear program

Russia wants to take part in Vietnam's planned nuclear energy program, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said Thursday following talks with Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Hanoi.

"We know that such plans were made in Vietnam, very daring and far-reaching plans. We hope that Russia will be among those who will work with Vietnam in this hi-tech area and continue the traditions of our cooperation," Denisov said in an interview to the ITAR-TASS news agency.

Last week, Russia and Vietnam signed oil and gas deals after trade talks in Moscow between the countries' presidents, as part of a broader effort by Russia to regain Soviet-era influence in the region.

While trade between Russia and Vietnam has grown in recent years, Russia's clout in the Southeast Asian country is still a shadow of Soviet-era levels.

Russian trade turnover with Vietnam was set to reach 1.5 billion dollars in 2007, Medvedev said, a figure dwarfed by the annual trade turnover between Vietnam and the United States of over 10 billion dollars.

(Source: AFP)

Japan says to help Vietnam build nuclear power plant

Japan said Thursday that it has signed an agreement to help Vietnam build its first nuclear power plant.

The Vietnamese government is preparing to start construction of the plant in 2015, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement.

The agreement was signed by Masashi Nakano, senior vice minister of economy, trade and industry, and his Vietnamese counterpart, Do Huu Hao, in Hanoi, the statement said.

Japan, which has 50 years of experience in nuclear power generation, will provide assistance for preparation and planning, as well as training of specialists. It will also help Vietnam establish safety regulations.

'It is very significant that a framework has been established for Japan to help Vietnam with its 50-year history in nuclear power development and its expertise in operating 55 nuclear power plants,' the statement said.

'Under this agreement, we will combine efforts at government and private sector levels to cooperate with Vietnam.'

Vietnam, which is enjoying rapid economic growth, has previously said it wants to build a nuclear power plant that would produce electricity from 2020.

The agreement signed Thursday is in part aimed at making it easier for Japanese companies to win orders for the construction in Vietnam, Kyodo News said quoting government officials.

Companies from France, South Korea and other countries are also showing strong interest in taking part in the construction, Kyodo said.

(Source: Forbes)

Vietnam to build two nuclear power plants

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute is compiling investment reports on two nuclear power plants to submit to the State Evaluation Council and the National Assembly in May 2009.

The government has decided to double the capacity of the first nuclear power plant of Vietnam to 4,000MW, at a total cost of nearly US$6 billion.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao said that the first nuclear power plant will have four turbines located in different sites. The construction of the two nuclear power plants will start in 2015 and be completed in 2020. Nuclear power will account for 20% of the total electricity output of Vietnam. Vietnam will build the two plants with soft loans and the contractor will have to contribute part of the capital.

Head of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, Vuong Huu Tan, said the two plants may be built in Phuoc Vinh commune in Ninh Phuoc district and Vinh Hai commune in Ninh Hai district, both in Ninh Thuan province, around 40km from each other.

Tan said these sites meet conditions for topography, geology and position, suitable for the transportation of materials. Moreover, the southern region’s need for electricity is higher than in the north so the construction of these plants in the south will facilitate power supply and reduce electricity losses from transmission.

Though Vietnam is facing a serious shortage of electricity, Vietnam can’t speed up nuclear power projects because it needs time to prepare sufficient facilities for these projects.

(Source: VietNamNet)