Nuclear return could charge climate goals

Nuclear return could charge climate goals- Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

According to the National Assembly Economic Committee (NAEC), many more countries began to recognise nuclear power as a cleaner type of energy with low greenhouse gas emissions after the COP26 climate summit last November. Thus, the NAEC said in a report released last week Vietnam should consider resuming its scheme for nuclear energy development to ensure energy security and fuel its socioeconomic development.

However, the committee noted that developing this type of energy would need thorough assessment and analysis with accurate and scientific evidence, as well as thorough forecasts on the country’s demands for energy in the future.

The NAEC suggested that for the scheme to be resumed, it must be approved by the Party, and the government should then consider restarting the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, which was approved for cancellation in 2016.

One of the reasons behind the proposal is that the country’s demands for energy are strongly growing to meet socioeconomic development. The issue has also come into clearer focus after the commitments made by Vietnam at COP26.

“We will make use of our own domestic resources, along with the cooperation and support of the international community, including through mechanisms under the Paris Agreement, in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” stated PM Pham Minh Chinh at COP26.

In 2016, the NA adopted a resolution on cancellation of the construction of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, located in the south-central province of the same name. Ratified for investment by the legislature in 2009, the project included two separate plants to be owned and operated by Electricity of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese government at the time stated that the key reason for the cancellation was to focus its limited budget on building key infrastructure projects of national importance, such as Long Thanh International Airport, the north-south railway and road, and the national coastal road.