VietNamNet Bridge - Experts believe the construction of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant should be delayed Because the country has not adequately prepared for it.

Ngo Duc Lam, a renowned energy expert, has expressed his concern about  information that the construction of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant would be delayed once again.

The Prime Minister in March 2016 approved the adjusted 7th power development plan for 2011-2020, which says that the first power generation unit of the first nuclear power plant would be operational by 2028.

However, the delay may occur by 2030. 

Experts believe the construction of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant should be delayed Because the country has not adequately prepared for it.

Therefore, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has asked to reconsider the power source development. If Vietnam still cannot have nuclear power, it would have to develop coal thermal power instead. Vietnam would have to push up the development of renewable energy. 

If the domestic sources cannot satisfy demand, Vietnam would have to import electricity from China or Laos.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Nhi Dien, Deputy Director of the Institute of Vietnam Atomic Energy and Director of the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute, on August 29, affirmed that the Prime Minister’s Decision No 428 remains the latest legal instruction on the project implementation.

“The document says that the first power generation unit would become operational by 2028, while another 3-4 units would be operational by 2030,” Dien said.

However, Dien admitted that he had heard from several sources about further delays.

The representative of the Ninh Thuan provincial People’s Committee, the locality where the first nuclear power plant would be set up, on August 29 said he had not received official information about the delay.

“Everything is still running in accordance with the plan approved by the government,” he said.

Commenting about the delay, Dien said it was reasonable to delay the operation until 2028 because there are still some problems that need to be solved. 

"It will take time to examine the project’s items, call for bids and make designs,” he said.

He also emphasized the necessity of preparing the labor force well. About 300-400 engineers have been sent to training courses in Russia, while 100 engineers will return from Japan soon.

According to Nguyen Minh De from the Vietnam Economics Science Association, there are still problems to be discussed. Vietnam will have to import foreign technologies, possibly Japanese and Russian. This is still under negotiation.

Mai Phuong