Nuclear power could solve Vietnam’s energy problems

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Photo illustration. Source: Internet

At the forum "Energy Efficiency for Vietnam's Industry to Develop Sustainably" held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on August 21, Mr. Nguyen Quan Nguyen, Minister of Science and Technology, spent time speaking about nuclear power in Vietnam.

According to Mr. Quan, traditional energy sources have been exhausted and Vietnam is importing more coal and liquefied petroleum gas. Thermoelectricity causes a lot of problems and many people oppose it because of its pollution. Hydropower has run out of medium and large capacity. Renewable electricity has potential but its efficiency is low and unstable.

Although the National Assembly has stopped considering nuclear power, Minister Nguyen Quan said that to ensure energy security, it is necessary to think of an alternative energy source – nuclear power.

"I worry that we have to return to nuclear power," said Nguyen Quan.

Citing Japan, according to Minister Nguyen Quan, after the tsunami, Japan canceled its nuclear power program and closed more than 50 nuclear power plants.

"But someday they will have to develop nuclear power with safer technology, higher levels of automation and efficiency. In Vietnam, we still have to prepare the plan,” said Nguyen Quan.

Given that there is no basis for Vietnam to make nuclear power safe and sustainable, Mr. Nguyen Quan expressed his wish that the Ministry of Industry and Trade with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance supported the Ministry Science and Technology implementing a rapid construction of a nuclear engineering center with a Russian research reactor to help replace the research response in Dalat. This is not only a place for research but also a source of training staff for Vietnam's nuclear industry.

“In science and technology, Vietnam is the leading country in ASEAN in nuclear technology. Vietnam's nuclear reactors are very effective and bring many benefits. Therefore, Vietnam should construct a new nuclear science and technology center, not only for research, but also to train high-quality human resources, so that one day we will make nuclear power and we have enough qualified staff,” Mr. Nguyen Quan said.

“In the era of industrial revolution 4.0, people could control a nuclear power factory from hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, even from space. It is possible to invite foreign investors to work for Vietnam but the safety staff and operators must be Vietnamese,” said Nguyen Quan.

Concerning the training program for nuclear power operators, according to former Minister Nguyen Quan, the training program should continue. Because this team not only serves nuclear power but also all other economic sectors that use nuclear energy.

Agreeing with Mr. Nguyen Quan, economic expert Tran Dinh Thien said that it is recommended that nuclear power should be rebuilt.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong said: “Nuclear power is a big problem for the country. The Central Economic Committee is directing research to advise the Party and the Government on policies in line with the development of energy in general, including nuclear power and how to meet the demand for country’s energy and solve many other issues."