Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a plan to build eight nuclear power stations by 2030 as the country is striving to meet its growing demand for energy.
Each power station will have between four to six reactors and will be built in the five central provinces of Ninh Thuan, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Ha Tinh and Quang Ngai.
Nuclear power stations are expected to produce around 8,000 MW by 2025 and 15,000 MW by 2030, accounting for 10 percent of the country’s total power output.
The plan calls for the safe and efficient exploitation of nuclear power and a gradual increase in domestic companies’ participation in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the plants.
As part of the plan, Vietnam will complete the construction of its first nuclear power station in Ninh Thuan province and begin to operate its first reactor in 2020 and a second reactor a year later.
The country will then build its second nuclear power station, also in Ninh Thuan, to make a combined output of 4,000 MW.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the nation’s demand for electricity will increase to 294 billion kWh in 2020 and will almost double to 562 billion kWh by 2030.
Meanwhile, the supply of raw materials for the electricity industry is expected to be only enough to produce 230 billion kWh by 2020 and 293 billion kWh by 2030.
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