France to help Viet Nam on nuclear power

Viet Nam has completed pre-feasibility research in the southern central province of Ninh Thuan’s Phuoc Dinh and Vinh Hai districts, which have been selected as locations for the nation’s first nuclear power facility.

According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao, Viet Nam has planned to have its first nuclear power operational by 2020. Also, as part of its nuclear power strategy, 15 to 20 per cent of the trading power in the country would be nuclear by 2050.

Speaking at an international workshop on France’s experience in building nuclear power plants, in the capital on Wednesday, Didier Kechemain, Deputy Executive Director of the International Co-operation Department at France’s Nuclear Power Committee, said that the demand for more power in a developing country like Viet Nam was obvious.

Motivation
He said the Viet Nam Government’s policy of achieving independence and self-control in producing and providing power in the country in the near future was a great motivation for building its nuclear power system.

At the moment, the two areas of Phuoc Dinh and Vinh Hai in Ninh Thuan Province have been proven appropriate to build a nuclear power factory, after completion of the location pre-feasibility research. These two areas have good geology, seismic activity and tectonics, with a low population density and large areas available.

According to Bernard Sentex, the Asia and Pacific Regional Director of Electricity de France (EDF), it will take two years to go from feasibility research to kick-starting the project, and another five years to plan it, bid it, design it and analyse safety methods. Then it will come to the final five years, building and experimenting before official operations to join the national grid.

The French specialists emphasised developing human resources for the work. Phillippe Pallier, director of Agency France Nuclear International, encouraged Viet Nam to plan domestic education and training for its nuclear human resources.

France is one of the four most powerful nuclear countries in the world, with a total of 58 factories and 80 per cent of the country’s power being nuclear. French Ambassador to Viet Nam Herve Bolot said France would assist Viet Nam in training nuclear specialists.

France’s experience would be useful to Viet Nam’s preparations for nuclear power in the country, said Deputy Minister Hao.