Legislators divided over nuclear power necessity

National Assembly members are divided over whether Vietnam should resume research on nuclear power development and preserve two project sites in Ninh Thuan province.

Vietnam "should not regret" its nuclear power ideas in the past and the zoning for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 projects should be discarded, delegate Truong Trong Nghia told the legislative body's ongoing session on Monday.

"The Party, State and National Assembly stalled the plans six years ago after thorough considerations. I vote for cancellation. Over the next 10 or 20 years, new zoning could occur if necessary, and new project sites be considered,” Nghia added.

The National Assembly's Economic Committee last week proposed the country resume research on nuclear power development, given its transition to cleaner energy and commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

It proposed the government preserve the two project sites in Ninh Thuan, though these projects were put on hold in 2016. "We need orientation from the Party, following which we will mull nuclear power development possibilities and resumption of research on the Ninh Thuan projects," it said in a report.

Echoing Nghia's words, Dang My Huong, deputy head of Ninh Thuan province’s delegation, said prolonging the old zoning would cause more difficulties to residents of the project sites.

Due to the zoning, local people are not allowed to buy, sell, or transfer land, or use land as mortgage for bank loans. Building or renovating houses are prohibited. Potential strategic investors are also concerned about the zoning, she claimed.

In response, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said the National Assembly has put the projects on hold, not erased them.

"Japanese and Russian partners, as well as relevant Vietnamese agencies had conducted thorough research before selecting the two sites in Ninh Thuan," he noted.

Dien added that Germany and the U.S. have recently re-built schemes for stronger development of this kind of power amid geopolitical uncertainties, as a "backup source" together with renewable energy.