Vietnam passes law on nuclear energy
04 June 2008
[VNA, 4 June] Vietnam's National Assembly has passed legislation that encourages and creates favourable conditions for domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to research and invest in nuclear energy, the Vietnam News Agency reported. To implement a strategy on applying nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the government has asked the state-run Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to map out projects to construct two nuclear power plants. Construction of the first plant - with an eventual capacity of 4000 MWe - is expected to start in central Ninh Thuan province by 2015, with completion by 2020. The Law on Atomic Energy will take effect as of 1 January 2009. EVN has said it expects the country's nuclear generating capacity to grow rapidly, reaching up to 11,000 MWe by 2025. Vietnam has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia, France, South Korea, Japan and the USA.