Vietnam considers 300-MW small modular nuclear reactors to ensure stable power supply

Vietnam’s latest national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII) does not include nuclear power, but the country is considering small modular reactors (SMRs), including floating reactors, with a capacity of 300 MW each.

Nuclear power as a possible solution is part of draft changes to PDP VIII (for the 2021-2030, with a vision until 2045) made by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

A commentary released Friday by market intelligence provider S&P Global said the ministry could study nuclear power development to “enhance baseload capacity and reduce emissions” and submit a proposal to the Politburo, Vietnam's highest decision-making body, for review and approval.

Vietnam was targeting nuclear power development and higher solar power capacity as it faced challenges in expanding coal, gas, wind and hydropower energy sources, the commentary said.

In 2009, Vietnam approved a 4,000-MW Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant project, but in November 2016, the National Assembly put the project on hold. Since then, the south-central province of Ninh Thuan has been developing into a renewables hub with wind and solar energy projects.

The trade ministry is expected to conduct another review of the PDP VIII implementation plan “due to the slow progress, particularly in developing LNG and offshore wind power,” according to S&P Global.

Another short-term solution being considered is the expansion of solar power as a system can be installed quickly, but under PDP VIII, solar is not a priority with only 1.5 GW of new large-scale capacity scheduled by 2030. The solar target under the plan is 12.836 GW by 2030, excluding rooftop solar.

There were challenges to updating the PDP VIII, the commentary noted.

The current plan caps coal-fired power capacity at 30.13 GW by 2030, allowing for an additional 3.383 GW to be developed from projects already under construction.

However, new coal projects were not feasible “due to local opposition and lack of financial support,” the trade ministry has said.

It has also noted that Vietnam’s plan to raise hydropower capacity to 29.346 GW from the current 22.878 GW carried risks related to natural disasters, climate change and other unforeseen challenges.

In wind power generation, onshore and nearshore wind power have reached a capacity of 3.061 GW; but reaching 6 GW of offshore wind by 2030 was “nearly impossible” with no offshore plants currently approved, the ministry has noted.

For LNG-fired power, under PDP VIII, Vietnam plans to develop 13 LNG-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 22.4 GW by 2030, but currently there are none operational.

The Nhon Trach 3 and Nhon Trach 4 LNG-fired power plants in the southern province of Dong Nai, are making sluggish progress, several reports have pointed out.