In May 2008, Vietnam held the third exhibition on nuclear technology. The exhibition took place from 13th to 17th May in Hanoi and attracted the attention of numerous companies from France, Russia, Canada, Japan, Korea and China. Representatives of Atomic Energy Agency of United Nations from Vienna, Austria also attended the exhibition.
Vietnam has the plan of constructing 4 nuclear power plants with the total capacity of 8,000 MW. The first two plants in Ninh Thuan will be completed in 2020.
In the event of higher oil price, Southeast Asian countries are finding ways to develop nuclear energy. Asia Times Press reveals that Indonesian Government plans to open the first plant in Java center after 2015; still, this plan has been strongly disapproved. Thailand is doing research on the possibility of erecting a plant in 2020 despite the disapproval of public opinion. Communities and non-government organizations in Thailand reckon that the plan will have bad effects on the construction of two coal-fired thermal power plants in Prachuap Kirikhan province. Philippines and Malaysia have just started their research on nuclear energy.
However, according to Asia Times, Vietnam has opportunities to be the pioneer in the area of nuclear energy in Southeast Asian region. Vietnam National Assembly has passed the Draft Law of Nuclear Energy since June 2008.
The United States supports Vietnam in the development of nuclear technology. The Ministry of Energy of the United States reports that scientists from the two national laboratories, Lawrence Livermore and Oak Ridge, will be assigned the task of cooperating with Vietnam. The collaboration focuses on issues like procedure of operating the nuclear piles and radiation impedition.
Theo: Mai Phuong