Russia, Vietnam progress with nuclear research centre project
23 May 2019
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology on the implementation of a centre for nuclear science and technology in Vietnam.
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The signing of the MoU (Image: Rosatom)
The MoU was signed by the Rosatom General Director Alexey Likhachev and the Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam Chu Ngoc Anh in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
"Russian and Vietnamese experts have already carried out a number of joint actions within the framework of this project, including the definition of preliminary requirements and the selection of the most suitable site for construction", Rosatom noted. "Taking into account the approval of the preliminary feasibility study of the project in November 2018, the signed Memorandum defines further steps for the construction of [the centre] in Vietnam."
An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Vietnam on the construction of the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) was signed in November 2011.
Rosatom signed an agreement in June 2017 with Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology to establish CNST under the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VinAtom). This will consist of a multi-purpose VVR research reactor with a capacity of up to 15 MWt, as well as a complex of research laboratories and engineering infrastructure based in Hanoi. The Centre will also have facilities in both the south and north of the country.
In September 2018, during the visit of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trọng to Russia, two additional documents were signed: an MoU on personnel training and an MoU on shaping positive public opinion on the CNST project.
Researched and written by World Nuclear News