Preparations hastened for first nuclear power plant

17:07' 02/05/2008 (GMT+7)
Preparations for Vietnam ’s first nuclear power plant are underway with an investment report expected for completion before the end of 2008, according to an official from the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

Sketch of the nuclear power plant in Phuoc Vinh commune, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province
The investment plan will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval in 2009, said EVN Deputy Director General Nguyen Manh Hung.

Construction of the plant is slated for 2012-2014 in central Ninh Thuan province. The first generator of the nuclear power plant is scheduled to be put into operation by 2020 in order to supply an additional 11,000 MW of nuclear power to the national electricity grid by 2025.

The 12 th National Assembly plans to discuss and adopt a Nuclear Power Law at its upcoming third session in a move to create legal foundation for the construction of the plant.

Investment for nuclear power plant got the go ahead by the Prime Minister as part of a national electricity development plan through 2006-2015.

The Government is guiding the EVN in plans to build two other nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 4,000 MW.

EVN has so far been entrusted to build 25 plants with a total capacity of more than 33,200 MW. However, the EVN noted it is still necessary to invest and put into operation more power plants from now until 2015 to supply a total output of nearly 58,500 MW of electricity in order to meet growing electricity demands.

Construction of 45 power plants are currently underway nationwide with a total capacity of nearly 14.6 MW of electricity, which are expected to be operational from now until the decade-end.