The nuclear power plan beyond Vietnam’s ability, Russian specialist

 Some are not in favor of the site for the new nuclear research center in Da Lat, saying that it can be dangerous for local residents, what do you think about it?

- Not just near the resorts as in Da Lat, the reactor anywhere must ensure the mandatory principle of safety performance and environmental protection.

To ensure this, operators must comply with the international rules and recommendations. This is a key factor to the nuclear reactors in operation anywhere. In case incidents occur, they will cause global impacts, not only on a local scale, as in the case of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan in 2011.

Da Lat officially had a reactor 30 years ago. I think local people should be given opportunities to visit the nuclear facilities in the center to see how it operates. The center operators should announce a fixed day that the center is open to the public and hold public workshops for local people to participate in, to help them understand the issues as the tasks of the center and how it operate to ensure safety ...

- Some people believe that the development plan of nuclear power is a bit too much for a country like Vietnam. What is your opinion?

- In the presentation by a representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology, 20% of the power needs of the country will be supplied from nuclear power plants. In many countries the proportion of nuclear power accounts for 50% or more, so I think 20% is a practical level.

It is true that Vietnam’s project is ambitious, but I think Vietnam has considered carefully and implemented the plan to build the two first nuclear power plants in a timely manner.

Nuclear energy is one of the cheapest and safest sources of energy to meet energy needs. 20% or 40% are close to reality. The plan is ambitious but it is beyond Vietnam’s ability.

- Do you think that Vietnam should establish an independent nuclear safety supervisory agency or not?

- The independent monitoring body is very important, mandatory and it has the right to monitor all nuclear power plants and nuclear research facilities. In many countries, the agency must report directly to the Prime Minister or the Parliament.

The agency must be independent, has the right to consider and decide which nuclear-related facilities are safe and it is not relevant to the issue of economic efficiency. This independent monitoring agency has the right to license the operation of nuclear facilities and set the safety standards...

The operation of the independent monitoring body must be based on laws made by the Parliament. The Nuclear Law must be built based on the international recommendations.

Mr. Vyacheslav Pershukov, Deputy CEO of the Russian National Atomic Energy, said: "The Center for Nuclear Science and Technology (including two facilities in Da Lat and Hanoi) are essential for supporting Vietnam to become a country that not only builds nuclear plants but also owns the experts who operate them safely, effectively."

According to Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Atomic Energy, in January 2014, Vietnamese and Russian partners completed the terms of reference for a feasibility study of the nuclear science and technology center. The project is expected to begin in mid-2014.