Nuclear power plays an important role in energy security: ministry

A nuclear reactor at Đà Lạt Nuclear Research Institute. The Government has recently asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to study the possibility for the development of nuclear power in Việt Nam. — VnA/VNS Photo Quang Nhựt

Speaking at the ministry’s quarterly press conference on Wednesday, Tân was responding to questions related to a proposal of the draft amendment to the Law on Electricity about the Government’s monopoly in developing nuclear power projects, which signals that Việt Nam is planning to resume the policy of developing nuclear power.

Việt Nam introduced the policy to develop nuclear power in 2009, with a project in Ninh Thuận Province, but the National Assembly on November 22, 2016 decided to halt the project due to a number of problems related to human resources and financial difficulties.

Under the eighth national power development plan (PDP8), which prioritises clean energy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is resuming the study into the development of nuclear power in Việt Nam and will report to the Government whether the country should develop nuclear power or not, Tân said. He added that the ministry is studying international experiences in developing nuclear power.

In developed countries, along with the development of renewable energy, base-load power source, including nuclear power, plays an important role, Tân said, adding that many countries are increasing the output and scale of nuclear power by two or three times.

For example, in Japan and France, nuclear power accounts for around 20-25 per cent of their electricity output.

With regards to safety concerns, Tân said across the globe, nuclear power is being developed at third or fourth technological stages with practical application and ensuring maximum safety while bringing risk levels to zero. The ministry’s on-going study has found several technologies which can be appropriate to Việt Nam, he said.

If nuclear power is developed, Việt Nam will select new-generation technology which has already been applied in practice to ensure absolute safety and guarantee no risk, he stressed.

Tân did not specify any timescale in resuming nuclear power in Việt Nam, saying that study is ongoing before next steps can be carried out.

Deputy Director of the ministry’s Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority, Bùi Quốc Hùng, said that the development of nuclear power must take into account economic, social and scientific factors.

In 2009, Việt Nam began developing of nuclear power but decided to halt the plan in 2016 due to limited resources, he said.

The Government has recently asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to study the possibility for the development of nuclear power in Việt Nam, in the context that the world and the country’s conditions are changing, especially in resources, together with the demand for reducing emissions.

The development of nuclear power is necessary to ensure energy security and achieve net zero, he stressed. How nuclear power will be developed will be studied carefully and evaluated thoroughly to propose amendments to the PDP8, he said.

Watching Temu

With regard to the operation of Chinese e-commerce platform Temu in Việt Nam, Tân said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is evaluating the glut of cheap products into Việt Nam through e-commerce channels to raise appropriate management measures. He stressed that all e-commerce platforms must register for operation in the country.

The ministry has asked the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy to evaluate the impacts of Temu’s operations in Việt Nam in the context that Indonesia has taken a bold move to block Temu – the market place which offers consumer goods typically shipped directly from producers in China - to protect local businesses.

“I am shocked that the prices of products on Temu are so low. More study and evaluation are needed before any conclusions can be given out,” Tân said, adding that the ministry will early provide measures to control the situation. The ministry will also enhance management to prevent trade frauds, the selling of counterfeit and smuggled products, he added.

The ministry is also studying the development of technical standards to protect local production and improve competitive for Việt Nam’s products, Tân said.

Early this week, days after officially beginning sales to Việt Nam, Temu launched an attractive affiliate marketing campaign for users, including a gift of VNĐ50,000 for a new user, VNĐ150,000 for each new app installment and commissions from 10-30 per cent for each order.

Temu offers free shipping for orders as low as VNĐ120,000. It takes only 4-6 days to ship from China to Việt Nam and users can pay through Google Pay, Visa and MasterCard.

In addition to Temu, 1688, Taobao and Shein are also eyeing the Vietnamese market with the introduction of Vietnamese app version and allowing shipping to Việt Nam.

HCM City Department of Industry and Trade has recently urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade to raise solutions to enhance the efficiency of management on cross-border trade to protect legitimate rights of consumers and ensure a healthy competition environment.

The municipal department said that several e-commerce platforms are offering discounts of more than 50 per cent, a sign for unhealthy competition. Strict punishments must be raised for violations together with improving regulations on tax and customs procedures, the department said.