Nuclear power project submitted to Politburo for consideration

The Government News quoted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as telling reporters on November 12 that the Government has put forward a proposal to the Politburo for considering the restart of nuclear power project.

The move aims to ensure power supply for fast and sustainable socio-economic development, the PM said.

According to the PM, power consumption will increase by 12-13per cent in 2025 and reach 1,200 billion kWh by 2045, higher than the figure outlined in the 8th National Power Development Plan (1,000 billion kWh).

The Government also proposes the National Assembly  amend the Law on Electricity, which will cover mechanisms to build and operate nuclear power plants, the PM added.

On November 7, many legislators attending the ongoing sitting of the 15^th National Assembly called for restarting the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project as soon as possible amid rising energy demand.

Earlier, in November 2016, the National Assembly had decided to stop the aforesaid project due to the country's "economic conditions".

The project involves building two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 400MW in the south central province of Ninh Thuan.