NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PLANS IN VIETNAM

BY

PICHAYATHIDA SIRIWECHDARUK

(Bee) G.11-9
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PLANS IN VIETNAM Pichayathida Siriwechdaruk (Bee) G.11-9

Vietnam and the Abolishment of Plans for Nuclear Power Plants

Introduction

Since the idea of using nuclear power for generating electricity was introduced in

1951, many developed countries established their own nuclear power plants. Nuclear power

is known as one of the alternative energy sources that are both sustainable and low in cost

(Outline History of Nuclear Energy, 2014). Due to the stated reasons, many of the

developing countries are planning to establish their own nuclear power plants as well.

Vietnam had been considering building their nuclear power plants since 1995, with the help

from Russia and Japan. However, Vietnams government had canceled the plans despite the

high investments made and the oppositions from the people who supported the plan. Even

though nuclear power is a sufficient and clean electricity power source, Vietnam should not

establish their own nuclear power plants due to the lack of readiness, possible negative

effects on both the environment and citizens health and the availability of alternative energy

forms within the country. The establishment of nuclear power plants and its effects is an

important issue to discuss due to the popularity of using nuclear energy as an alternative in

various countries within the world and the lack of knowledge in terms of the negative effects

of nuclear power plants on people and the environment. Thus, the resolution to cancel the

establishment of nuclear power plants in Vietnam should be supported.

The lack of readiness of Vietnam

The first reason that supports the cancellation of the plans in Vietnam is that Vietnam

is still not ready; especially in terms of financial support, skilled labors, and public

knowledge. According to the World Nuclear Association, Vietnam has postponed the plan to

establish its own nuclear power plant several times due to the financial problems within the

country. Although both Japan and Russia agreed to finance $ 9.53 billion for the plants,

Vietnam still has to face the difficulties funding the plants and the education for nuclear-

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related occupations. In addition, Vietnam has to face the economic problems which would

also decrease Vietnams financial capability (Nuclear Power in Vietnam, 2017). The

consequence of the lack of financial investment in educating Vietnam citizens is the lack of

skilled labors. Brian Molly, technical head of human resource of International Atomic Energy

Agency (IAEA) had given an interview regarding the lack of skilled workers within Vietnam

at the Human Resources Development for Nuclear Power seminar. He stated that Vietnam

needed to develop a practical and detailed plan about how to develop the needed human

resources for the nuclear industry. It was discussed within the seminar that Vietnam lacks

additional 5,000 workers in order to meet the sufficient skilled worker level (Nuclear

industry short of workers, 2014). Also, it was stated that additional seven to ten years is

needed to train sufficient amount of skilled workers, such as nuclear engineer, nuclear reactor

operator or engineering technicians. On the other hand, the survey held by Vietnam

government under the supervision of FNCA to determine public knowledge and awareness

about nuclear energy in college and high school students shows the lack of knowledge about

nuclear energy in Vietnam students. Only 9.5% of high school students and 19.7% of college

students stated that they know nuclear energy well. Next, the majority of both college

students and high school students stated that the best energy source for the environment due

to the lowest emission of CO2 (Carbon dioxide) is wind power. Moreover, the majority of

high school students stated that solar energy is the best energy source (Public Opinion

Survey on Nuclear Energy in Seven FNCA Countries, 2011). The information provided by

the survey shows that nuclear power is not yet publicly known in Vietnam citizens; in this

case, Vietnam students. All of the evidence stated show that Vietnam is still lacking in terms

of readiness to establish their own nuclear power plants. Lack of readiness of Vietnam is one

of the reasons that support the cancellation of the plan to establish nuclear power plant in

Vietnam.

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The harm of nuclear on health and environment

Another aspect that supports the cancellation is that having nuclear power plants in

Vietnam could harm Vietnams environment and citizens health. Leakage of radioactive

substances from the plants is possible in Vietnam due to the susceptibility to natural disaster,

the lack of disposal or storage plan of nuclear waste and the lack of readiness in terms of

nuclear security legal framework. Studies conducted by scientists from Vietnam Institute of

Geoscience and Mineral Resources stated that Ninh Thuan, where the two new nuclear power

plants are to be established, is prone to the earthquakes caused by the fault lines within the

nearby areas, especially in Suoi Mia and Vinh Hai. Moreover, another study conducted by the

team of scientist from Italy had claimed that Vietnam is prone to the tsunamis that originated

from the South China Sea. (Ogilvie-White, 2014). Due to the possible disaster impacts,

chances of nuclear accidents within Vietnam is high. Effect of nuclear accidents caused by

natural disasters could include radiation, contamination of water sources within a nation,

leakage of radioactive substances, and if leakage was caused by tsunamis, the water in the

South China Sea could also be contaminated due to the radioactive substances that were

swept into the sea by the waves. For nuclear waste management problems, a study by NTS

founded that Vietnam has not adopted a plan about the disposal of nuclear wastes for both

their Russian-financed plants and Japan-financed plants. Moreover, there is still no

arrangement for either reprocess or disposal of nuclear wastes for the Japanese-financed

nuclear power plant. The Leakage of nuclear wastes in the process of storage and disposal

could be the cause of cancerous diseases, genetic problems in both animal and plants, and

contamination to the ocean with radioactive substances. The nuclear waste is hazardous for

both citizens health and the environment (Cabellero-Anthony, Cook, Trajano, & Sembiring,

2014). Lastly, the proceeding of the International Nuclear Science, Technology and

Engineering Conference 2016 (NuSTEC 2016) held in Malaysia on January 6, 2017, stated

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that there are international concerns about Vietnam and the establishment of nuclear power

plants within the nation. The first concern is that Vietnams emergency protocol lacks in

terms of conformance with IAEAs preparedness and response standards. The second

concern is the lack of security and future spent fuel management plan. The possible future

problems caused by the governments rush to establish nuclear power plants within the nation

is the third concern. Finally, the last concern is that Vietnam Agency for Radiation and

Nuclear Safety (VARANS) is seen as not able to regulate the operation, especially operations

for nuclear safety due to the lack of independence (Jais & Hassan, 2017). The international

concerns over the security policy of nuclear power plants in Vietnam show that the

establishment of nuclear power plants in Vietnam could affect citizens health and the

environment due to the lack of nuclear security, which could cause leakage, radiation or

nuclear accidents. These are examples of how nuclear power plants could affect Vietnams

environment and citizens health badly. The hazardous effect of nuclear is one of the reasons

why the cancellation of the plans to establish nuclear power plants should be supported.

Insufficient electricity generation and other options of energy sources

Although that it was claimed by various sources that nuclear power would be the best

new and sufficient source of electrical energy in Vietnam, many pieces of evidence

contradicts the statement. Despite the nuclear power being a renewable and a sufficient

source of energy for some countries, it was predicted that nuclear power would produce the

least amount of electricity compared to other energy sources available in Vietnam. According

to the US Energy Information Administration website, statistics of the percentage of energy

generation through various sources shows that nuclear energy would be the source of energy

that would produce the least amount of electricity among all of the sources. Nuclear energy

will generate only about 8% of the total electricity in 2030. Also, it was shown that coal and

hydroelectricity will remain as the main source of electricity with 56% and 16% of the total

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electricity generated respectively (Johnson & Slater-Thompson, 2015). The research carried

out by graduate students of the University of Texas shows that biomass and hydropower are

the major energy sources in Vietnam. It was predicted by using the current information

regarding energy generation by using various sources of energy and consumption of energy

that approximately 78% of the total energy consumption would be from combustible

renewables and wastes such as biomass and about 22% would be from hydropower (Alfaro,

Espinoza, Mendez, Servin, & Vazquez, 2013). During the 2nd Asian Science and Technology

Forum, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thuc (2006) the director of the Institute of Meteorology and

Hydrology stated that there are abundant of other energy sources other than nuclear power

available in Vietnam. There are approximately 150 million tons of coal, 600 million barrels

of oil, 0.2 trillion cubic meters and 120 billion kWh of hydropower available in Vietnam.

Moreover, there are other sources of energy available in Vietnam such as geothermal, wind,

solar energy, biomass, and tides.

Conclusion

Vietnam governments decision to cancel the plans for the establishment of nuclear

power plants should be supported. Nuclear power does not suit Vietnam due to the lack of

skilled workers and public knowledge, possible harmful effects to the environment and

citizens health and the insufficiency of nuclear power in electricity generation. The

establishment of nuclear power plants would have more negative effects rather than positive

effects on Vietnam, and hence the plan to establish the plants should be abolished. Various

articles, professional opinion shows that Vietnam is not ready for the establishment of

nuclear power plants. Moreover, the survey supervised by FNCA supported that Vietnam is

indeed, not ready for the usage of nuclear power in electricity generation. On the other hand,

the study conducted by the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS) states the

possible negative effects on the health of citizens and the environment from the presence of

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nuclear energy in Vietnam. Furthermore, researches and statistic analyzations show the

insufficiency of nuclear power in electricity generation. Since the use of nuclear power in

electricity generation is being considered by various nations at the moment, it is important for

all people to acknowledge the possible effects resulted from the nuclear power plants;

particularly the Vietnamese.

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References

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