VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have expressed deep concern over the presence of Chinese nuclear power plants in areas close to the Vietnamese border.

A series of large-capacity nuclear reactors, 500-1,000 MW, have been put into operation in areas near Vietnam. Three plants are located 300-500 kilometers from Hanoi.

Ninh Thuan is where Vietnam plans to set up its first nuclear power plant.

Sources also said that China has been building more and more nuclear power plants and the plants tend to be set up in the southern part of the country, or close to the northern part of Vietnam.

Chinese nuclear power units near Vietnam have been put into commercial operation. These include a 1,000 MW unit in China’s Guangxi province, just 60 kilometers from Vietnam’s Mong Cai. The 650 MW unit of the plant in Hainan and the 600 MW unit of the plant in Guangdong have connected the Chinese national electricity grid.

Though the next-generation nuclear power is believed to be safe, experts still show concern about the presence of many nuclear power plants near Vietnam.

Scientists have expressed deep concern over the presence of Chinese nuclear power plants in areas close to the Vietnamese border.

Worry about nuclear power safety is the reason why Vietnam has decided to delay its Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant operation until 2028.

Luu Duc Hai, Environment Dean of the Hanoi University of Natural Sciences, said it was necessary to propose international supervision over the process of building Chinese nuclear power plants bordering Vietnam.

According to Hai, with the short distance of just 200-300 kilometers, the capital city of Hanoi and the Red River Delta are exposed.

Wastewater and cooling water from nuclear power plants may contain radioactive substances, and if they leak out to the East Sea, they will have adverse impacts on the marine environment of the territorial waters of both China and Vietnam.

“It is necessary to consider the possible impact of the Chinese power plants on Vietnam’s environment, both on the mainland and the territorial waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, as well as measures to minimize risks,” he said.

Meanwhile, Le Van Hong, deputy head of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, suggested that Vietnam needs to have direct discussions with China on the risks.

Vietnam can also cite the International Atomic Energy Agency’s convention on safety of nuclear power plants to request China to provide sufficient information about the nuclear power plants to be located near Vietnam.

“China is a member of the convention and so is Vietnam. Therefore, Vietnam has the right to ask it to provide information about the plants near Vietnam it intends to build,” he said. 

Thanh Mai