Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade: Nuclear power production must ensure zero risk

In the draft Electricity Law (amended), the Government proposes that the State monopolize and the Prime Minister stipulate a specific mechanism to deploy investment, construction and operation of nuclear power plants. Previously, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries and branches to research and develop nuclear power and amend Power Plan VIII to suit reality.

At a press conference on October 23, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said that the agency is reviewing practices to evaluate whether to deploy nuclear power projects. “After the competent authorities agree on the policy, a specific process for investing in this power source will be introduced,” he said.

In the case of developing this energy source, Mr. Tan said, the idea is to choose new generation technology that has been applied in practice. The goal is to ensure maximum safety, bringing risk to zero.

According to the Deputy Minister, the world is developing nuclear power at the third and fourth technology stages. “We are researching and seeing a few options,” he said.

Nuclear power development is currently not mentioned in Power Plan VIII. However, in a report sent to ministries and branches requesting comments on the draft to amend this planning in early September, the Ministry of Industry and Trade mentioned the development of small-sized nuclear power plants (SMR).

According to the Ministry, small modular reactors have a capacity of about 300 MW per unit, one-third the generation capacity of traditional reactors. These plants produce low-carbon electricity and have a short construction period (about 24-36 months). This will help increase the efficiency of renewable power sources, contribute to clean energy conversion, and help countries meet sustainable development goals.

32 countries around the world are using nuclear energy to generate electricity. This level is equal to 9.1% of the world’s electricity last year. Therefore, this agency believes that “it is possible to consider” researching and developing small-sized nuclear reactors, including floating nuclear power plants in the future, in Vietnam.

Previously, Vietnam had planned to build a nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan, but this project was stopped according to the decision in Resolution 31 of 2016 of the National Assembly. In 2022, when supervising the implementation of this resolution of the National Assembly, the Economic Committee proposed to consider developing this type of energy on the basis of a complete, scientific, and accurate assessment of the current situation and forecasts. energy supply and demand.

According to a representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, international experience shows that nuclear power plays an important role as a foundation power source for renewable energy development. Therefore, all countries are researching to double or triple the output and scale of this power source. In Japan and France, it is estimated that the proportion of nuclear power accounts for 20-25%.

“The Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that development in the coming time is very necessary, ensuring energy security and sustainable development,” Mr. Bui Quoc Hung, Deputy Director of Electricity & Renewable Energy (Ministry of Industry and Trade) adds.