Vietnam will have a nuclear power plant by 2020

Accumulated electricity production and purchase in the first 9 months of 2008 was 55.6 billion kWh, up 12.5% ​​over the same period last year. In particular, the electricity produced by EVN is 39.8 billion kWh; electricity purchased from outside was 15.8 billion kWh, the proportion of electricity purchased from outside increased by 22.19% over the same period of 2007.
Meanwhile, the mobilization of available capacity of the national electricity system in the current period is facing difficulties because the input fuels of coal, oil and gas power plants using natural resources are increasingly exhausted. Increased import prices of fuel have led to higher production costs while electricity prices have remained unchanged. Hydropower plants account for a large proportion, have low electricity production costs but depend too much on nature, other power plants such as nuclear, biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, wave sea ​​… not yet.And according to forecasts, from now to 2020, Vietnam is still in a state of electricity shortage. Because, we always have to run at a high rate of development in terms of electricity demand, resulting in resources failing to meet development needs and without backup power.
According to Mr. Duong Quang Thanh, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Electricity, the electricity industry in Vietnam is facing a huge challenge. With the demand for electricity increasing 17% per year and expected to continue to grow rapidly to meet the needs of economic growth, the power industry will have to grow rapidly in the next decade. Therefore, in the solutions to develop various types of power sources to meet the energy needs for the industrialization and modernization of the country, the total solution between making the most of the energy resources in Therefore, the combination of electricity import, coal and gas import with the appropriate density to build nuclear power plants will be the optimal solution.
Issues of plans to build nuclear power plants
According to the plan to 2015, start building nuclear power plant and put into operation in 2020 with a capacity of 2,000 MW. In the face of the current power shortage, the Government has proposed building twice the capacity, ie 4 units and 2 nuclear power plants in two different locations. Of the total electricity diagram 6, after 2020 nuclear power will account for 20% of Vietnam’s total electricity production. Using a nuclear power plant has a particular advantage, though investment in plant construction requires a large amount of capital and a long construction period, but operating costs are cheaper than operating generators. Electricity uses coal, oil or gas. Once completed and put into operation, the main raw materials for nuclear power plants to operate are bundles of fuel rods (usually uranium) from the time of filling, which will last a few years in the furnace. Reaction, with relatively stable costs.
Tuan said that although uranium fuel prices increased rapidly in 2007, there was little impact on the production costs of operating nuclear power plants. Moreover, the source of uranium fuel according to the surveyed data is sufficient to ensure long-term supply to the nuclear industry. Especially in the context of rapidly increasing fuel prices, nuclear power becomes more and more competitive and will be an economic choice.
However, to develop nuclear power, according to experts, first of all Vietnam needs to choose the appropriate technology. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Vuong Huu Tan, Director, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute said: “Because nuclear power projects require large investment, while financial capacity of Vietnam is limited, so we must approve international cooperation that seeks financial arrangements for nuclear power projects “.
The second is the safety, operation and maintenance of safe nuclear power plants for a long time from 40 to 60 years to be the most concern of policy makers and investors. . A small mistake can also lead to huge consequences and damage.
The second is radioactive waste, which is currently a problem that has not been completely solved. Studies on high-level waste treatment and management are being paid attention to by many countries around the world, hoping that with the progress of science and technology and technology, soon there will be optimal solutions in the future. recent hybrid.