VN nuclear power before Japanese nuclear disaster

In the article, "Vietnam is still pursuing nuclear power," the Financial Times reporter recently wrote an article reflecting the recent opinion about the recent Japanese nuclear incident and the determination of Vietnam to pursue its nuclear program. multiply.

When heavy storms hit Hanoi at noon on Tuesday (March 15), some people canceled meetings and rushed to schools to pick up their children in the face of false rumors, Vietnam is suffering from " acid rain " from Japan. (The World Health Organization issued a statement emphasizing that such rumors, which are spreading throughout Asia, are unfounded.)

Despite the seething atmosphere caused by the uncompleted nuclear crisis in Japan, the Vietnamese government announced it still intends to promote a plan to build its first nuclear power plant with assistance from Japan and Russia.

Model of nuclear reactor on display in the International Exhibition on Nuclear Power 2010 at
Hanoi with the theme ' Towards Ninh Thuan nuclear power project '. Photo: Dan Tri

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, stressed nuclear safety is a top priority and " is particularly important in the context of climate change and natural disasters, especially dynamics." earth and tsunami in Japan ".

Ms Nga added that Vietnam will work closely with Japan and other international partners to develop nuclear energy while " ensuring nuclear safety and environmental protection ".

Mr. Tran Thanh Minh, former Director of the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology in Vietnam, affirmed that the Vietnamese government is absolutely right to continue the plan to build nuclear power plants despite the county crisis. in Japan. He expressed: " I am concerned about what is happening in Japan, but like most nuclear scientists, I am not too worried. Vietnam will use the most advanced nuclear technology and will practice greater focus on technology safety when building its nuclear reactors ".

According to Tran Thanh Minh, the risk from earthquakes and tsunamis for future nuclear power plants in Vietnam appears to be small because Vietnam is not located near the areas with the most powerful seismic activity. in Asia. However, he added, the government and scientists need to carefully consider the potential challenge from rising sea levels, because Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by the phenomenon of variability. climate change .

Last October, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung signed an agreement that Japan will help build two nuclear reactors for Vietnam.

The above nuclear project is expected to be implemented in Ninh Thuan province, southern Vietnam. This is also the first order for the Japan International Nuclear Energy Development Company, a joint venture company established last year to support the export of nuclear technology in the country of the rising sun.

Global competition to sell nuclear technology to energy-hungry developing countries is heating up as France, South Korea and the United States compete for lucrative contracts abroad with Japan.

Concerns about how to deal awkwardly with problems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant probably won't improve Japan's international nuclear reputation. However, Japan's ability to provide soft loans and other financial support has helped it win important infrastructure construction contracts in Vietnam for many years.

The question for Vietnam is, how much of the reconstruction costs after the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster will feed Japan 's aid and preferential loans abroad.