1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Population, million persons	71.99	73.16	74.31	75.46	76.60	77.64
Growth rate, %	1.65	1.61	1.57	1.55	1.51	1.36

Year	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020
Population, million persons	77.68	82.559	87.612	92.899	98.211
Growth rate, %	1.36	1.19	1.18	1.14	1.0

 

Year	1995	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020
Urban, %	20	25.11	30	35	40	46
Rural, %	80	74.89	70	65	60	54

1.1.1 Economic Indicators

Since 1986, Vietnam has initiated a reform from a centrally planned economy to a market economy. As a result, Vietnam's economy began to develop steadily in the recent years and most likely it will have high growth rates in the near future. The economic development alone will force an increase in energy development in general and electricity in particular. In the period 1991-1995, the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) has grown at an average rate of 8.2% per year and the growth rate of the electricity consumption was 12.5%. From 1995 to 1997, Vietnam's economy developed stable, but in the years 1998 and 1999, it went down due the financial crisis. From 2000, as in most Asian countries, the Vietnam economy began to pick up again. The trend of the economic development over the past 5 years is given in the Table 5 and that of the export and import of goods is given in the Table 6. Exports include crude oil, rice, marine products, coal, coffee and rubber and imports petroleum products, steel products, tractors, cotton and textiles.

Currently, the Vietnamese Government has reviewed and adjusted targets for the economic development for the period 2000-2020. The concrete targets for 2010 are:

§ A doubling of GDP by 2010 to be attained through an economic growth of over 7% per annum;

§   Investment to be increased to 30% of GDP;

§ Export to grow more than twice the rate of GDP;

§  The share of agriculture in GDP to decline from 25% to 16-17%; industry to increase from 35% to 40-41%; and services to increase from 40% to 42-43%;

§ The share of rural employment to decline from about two-thirds to half; and

§  The share of urban population to increase from  a quarter to a third.

TABLE 5. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE

Parameters	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
GDP growth rate, %	9.54	9.34	8.15	5.76	4.77	6.79	6.89	7.04
GDP1   Billion VND             Million USD GDP per Sector:	228,892  20,808	272,036  24,552	313,623  26,794	361,016  26,989	399,942  29,538	441,646 31,546	481,295 33,193	536,098 35,739
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing, %	27.18	27.76	25.77	25.78	25.43	24.53	23.24	22.99
Industry & Construction, %	28.76	29.73	32.08	32.49	34.49	36.73	38.13	38.55
Service, %	44.06	42.51	42.15	41.73	40.08	388.74	38.63	38.46

1 at current prices
Source: Vietnam Statistical Yearbook, Hanoi 1996,1997,1998,1999, 2000,2001,2002

TABLE 6. THE EXPORT AND IMPORT OF GOODS

Source: Vietnam Statistical Yearbook, Hanoi 1996,1997,1998,1999, 2000,2001,2002

 

1.1.2. Energy Situation

The overall Vietnamese energy reserves are given in Table 7.

TABLE 7. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES

	Estimated energy reserves in
	(Exajoule)
	Solid	Liquid	Gas	Uranium	Hydro	Total
				(1)	(2)
Total amount in place	89.89	0.022	0.027	18	0.288	108.23
(1) This total represents essentially recoverable reserves.
(2) For comparison purposes a rough attempt is made to convert hydro capacity to energy by multiplying
the gross theoretical annual capability (World Energy Council - 2002) by a factor of 10.

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

1.1.2.1. Coal

Coal reserves in Vietnam are concentrated in the northern part, especially in the Quang Ninh province. Total reserves of anthracite and semi-anthracite to a depth of 1,000 meters are said to be 6.6 billion tons, in which the total of surveyed reserves to a depth of 300 meters are 3.1 billion tons. There are other coal reserves besides anthracite: 11.8 million tons of bituminous and 244.1 million tons of lignite and semi-bituminous are surveyed reserves. The production comes from 3 coal companies: Uong Bi Coal Company (Vang Danh, Mao Khe, Trang Bach), Hon Gai Coal Company and Cam Pha Coal Company (Khe Tam, Dong Bac). Data of the past 5 years of coal production and coal use is given in Table 8 and the projected coal- production in Table9.

TABLE 8. COAL PRODUCTION AND COAL USE

Source: Vietnam Statistical Yearbook, Hanoi 1996,1997,1998,1999, 2000,2001.

TABLE 9. PROJECTED COAL PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

 

1.1.2.2. Oil, Gas & Petroleum products

Exploration of oil and gas in Vietnam has been carried out since 1959. The potential reserves of oil & gas are estimated to be 4.8 billion m3 oil equivalent, which are mainly offshore located. By the end of 1999, the discovered reserves of oil & gas were 1.1 billion m3 oil equivalent, of which oil was 430 million tons and gas 620 billion m3. In the past period, the crude oil production has increased remarkably. Up to now, the total amount of crude oil production is more than 100 million tons. At the present time, almost all crude oil is exported, while the domestic demand in petroleum products is met by import. A refinery with a capacity of 6.5 million tons/year is now under construction and will be put into operation in 2004. Currently, the off shore associated gas pipeline supplied 1.5 billions m3 for electricity generation. The past 5 years of oil & gas production is given in Table 10. The projected oil & gas production is given in Table 11.

TABLE 10. OIL & GAS PRODUCTION

Source: Vietnam Statistical Yearbook, Hanoi 1996,1997,1998,1999, 2000,2001,2002

TABLE 11. PROJECTED OIL & GAS PRODUCTION

Source: Vietnam Energy Database, Final Report of KHCN-09, Hanoi, May 2000, (in Vietnamese). Institue of Energy Report - 2001

TABLE 15. THE STRUCTURE OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

Source: Vietnam Energy Database, Final Report of KHCN-09, Hanoi, May 200, (in Vietnamese). Institue of Energy Report - 2001

TABLE 16. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND INSTALLED CAPACITY

							Average annual
							growth rate (%)
							1970	1990
	1970	1980	1990	2000	2001	2002	To	To
							1990	2002
Electricity production (TW.h)
- Total (1)	2.12	4.21	8.72	26.59	30.60	35.80	7.33	12.49
- Thermal	1.51	2.90	3.35	11.38	11.72	16.93	4.08	14.45
- Hydro	0.62	1.20	5.37	14.55	18.22	18.20	11.44	10.71
- Nuclear
- Geothermal		0.11		0.67	0.67	0.67
Capacity of electrical plants (GWe)
- Total	0.56	1.19	2.13	5.90	7.61	8.75	6.90	12.49
- Thermal	0.40	0.89	1.40	2.36	3.55	4.55	6.52	10.33
- Hydro	0.16	0.25	0.68	3.46	3.98	4.12	7.33	16.19
- Nuclear
- Geothermal		0.05	0.05	0.08	0.08	0.08		3.64
- Wind
(1) Electricity losses are not deducted.
(*) Energy values are in Exajoule except where indicated.

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database.

TABLE 17. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

			1970	1980	1990	2000	2001	2002
Energy consumption per capita (GJ/capita)			12	7	9	14	15	15
Electricity per capita (kW.h/capita)			50	73	131	341	390	449
Electricity production/Energy production (%)			8	11	15	17	16	15
Nuclear/Total electricity (%)
Ratio of external dependency (%) (1)			53	10	-1	-32	-35	-38
Load factor of electricity plants
- Total (%)			43	41	47	60	62	60
- Thermal			43	37	27	64	66	61
- Hydro			43	55	91	57	57	57
- Nuclear
(1) Net import / Total energy consumption.

Source: IAEA Energy and Economic Database

 

2. NUCLEAR POWER SITUATION 1

2.1. Historical Development and current nuclear power organizational structure1

2.1.1 Overview

The introduction of nuclear power in the country needs preliminary studies. The following institutions are responsible for these preliminary studies:

§   Institute of Energy (IE), Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), Ministry of Industry (MOI).

§   Nuclear Power Centre (NPC), Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (INST), Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission (VAEC).

The past activities in Nuclear Power Planning Study of these Institutions are as follow:

1. In the years 1980-1985, Institute of Energy (IE) elaborated a preliminary nuclear power planning study in the spirit of command economy and centralized management. The results so obtained by the IE are now out of date and could not serve for an Energy and Nuclear Power Planning.

2. The TC Project VIE/0/004 "Preparatory studies for a nuclear power project" (1/1987-7/1989) was implemented by VAEC in unfavourable situation (i.e. after the Chernobyl accident which aggravated the economic conditions in Vietnam). Although completed, this project has not yet given definitive results.

3. In the years 1992-1995, the preliminary study was carried out in the frame of the National Project KC-09-17: "Study on the viability of the introduction of the Nuclear Power in Vietnam". The main responsible for this project was NPC, INST, VAEC. The major conclusion of this study is as follow: "Around the year 2015, when electricity demand more than 100 billion kW·h, the nuclear power should be introduced for satisfying the continuously growth in the country's electricity demand in that time and beyond". This preliminary study result should be confirmed by energy-planners & decision-makers of all energy-responsible organizations in VN and by an IAEA experts team.

2.1.2 Current Organizational Chart(s)

Many ministries are involved in nuclear safety related matters, emergency planning, development of programmes and their financing, control of export/import, transportation, etc. mainly from a radiation safety point of view. Most of the tasks have to be performed in co-operation with the MOST (Minister of Science, Technology and Environment). The Ministry of Industry, which will in future play a crucial role in establishing nuclear power plants is not covered yet by the existing legislation. At present, MOST is the senior governmental body in regulating nuclear safety matters. In accordance with the Law on Environmental Protection and the Decree No.175, the Minister of MOST is the country's chief regulator. Under MOST, there are several agencies performing mainly advisory function for the Minister. A simplified organizational chart of MOST is shown in Figure 3

FIG. 3. Simplified Organizational Chart of MOST

 

2.2. Nuclear Power Plants: Status and Operations 1

At the present time, the Vietnam Government has created different projects aimed to broader and more basically consideration of nuclear power option. These projects are as follows:

1. The National Industrial Project: "General survey studies for the introduction of Nuclear power into Vietnam", sponsored by Ministry of Industry. The Institute of Energy, the Electricity of Vietnam and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission are the main responsible for this project. This project is being carried out in three years: 1996-1999. The scope of this project includes two main tasks:

· The non-site studies, covering electricity expansion long-term planning, economics of nuclear power and financing, technical and safety aspects, the fuel cycle and waste management;

·   Site and environmental studies, covering preliminary site selection and environmental impacts.

 

2. In the framework of National R&D programme on "Strategy and Policy for Energy sustainable development", 1996-1999. There are different energy planning organizations take part on this programme, among them, the VAEC is responsible for R&D Project KHCN-09-04: "Establishment the fundamental basis for the introduction of  nuclear power into Vietnam", with following objectives:

·  To analysis of nuclear power role in long-term energy supply system; and

·   To promote the national R&D infrastructure for future nuclear power programme.

 

3.  To assist Vietnamese experts in performing energy and nuclear power planning activities, under the framework of IAEA Technical Cooperation programmes, the TC Project: VIE/0/009 "Pre-feasibility study for the introduction of Nuclear Power Plant into Vietnam" is ongoing. This TC project begins in March 1997 and is planned to finish in the end of 1999. It concentrates on following two aspects:

·   Energy and Nuclear Power Planning, using IAEA planning tool, such as ENPEP, MAED, WASP, IMPACTS;

· Technology, safety of Nuclear Power plants and infrastructure requirements for Nuclear Power implementation.

In the framework of Bilateral Cooperation, in recent years, Vietnam has received the very useful assistance from different rich-experienced countries, such as Japan, Canada, Korea, India, France and others.

2.3 Supply of NPPs 1

Not applicable.

2.4 Operation of NPPs 1

Not applicable.

2.5 Fuel Cycle and Waste Management 1

Not applicable.

2.6 Research and Development 1

One of the agencies under MOST is the Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission (VAEC). The VAEC was established in April 1976 and up to April 1994 it was controlled under the Prime Minister's office. In April 1994, VAEC was reorganized and put under MOST. As shown in Figure 4, the VAEC comprises five main institutions. These are:

1. Nuclear Research Institute in the Dalat City (NRI, Dalat);
2. Centre for Nuclear Techniques in the Ho Chi Minh City (CNT, HCM);
3. Irradiation Centre in the Ho Chi Minh City;
4. Institute of Nuclear Science and Techniques in Hanoi (INST, Hanoi);
5. Institute for Technology of Radioactive and Rare Elements in Hanoi (ITRE, Hanoi).

FIG. 4. Organization of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission

VAEC represents manpower of nearly 600 people; two thirds of them are scientists. At present, VAEC:
1. serves as an advisory body to the government in developing strategy of the nuclear programme;
2. performs research, development and transfer of nuclear techniques to end users;
3. carries out technical services in radiation protection for research and application of nuclear techniques in VAEC and outside;
4. co-operates with VRPA in preparation of regulations for the nuclear field;
5. develops human resources for the Vietnam nuclear programme;
performs implementation of the international co-operation in the nuclear field.

2.7 International Co-operation and Initiatives 1

Brief description of research and development activities carried out jointly with other countries and/or within the framework of international projects, technical and industrial co-operation, transfer of know-how and technology.

3. NATIONAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 1

3.1. Safety Authority and the Licensing Process

The Vietnam Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority (VRPA) was established in 1994 by a Decision of the Prime Minister to assist the MOST in the state management of radiation protection and nuclear safety.

The authority of the regulatory body is described in the "Ordinance on Radiation Safety and Control" and includes the normal functions expected of a Regulatory Body but is heavily biased towards the regulation of radiation protection. Although not explicitly stated in the law VRPA must give prior authorization for any activities involving the use of radioactive material or source.

The primary function of VRPA (Decision No. 159/QD-TCCB of March 4, 1995 of the Minister of MOST) is to assist the Minister responsible for MOST in exercising the state management of radiation protection and nuclear safety. Its responsibilities include the following:

1. establish a National Plan of radiation protection and nuclear safety;
2. draft and submit legal documents, regulations, standards relating to radiation protection and nuclear safety;
3. to organize the system of notification, registration and licensing for radiation sources, practices, installations and workers;
4. to organize the review and approval of the radiation protection and nuclear safety aspects of sites, design and technical justification of radiation installations and works;
5. to organize the control, inspection of radiation protection and nuclear safety for radiation installations;
6. to deal with violations of radiation protection and nuclear safety provisions according to the law;
7. to organize the training and provision of information to the public, concerning radiation protection and nuclear safety;
8. to organize the development of human resources, technical equipment and facilities for ensuring the control of radiation protection and nuclear safety;
9. to organize the implementation of international treaties and conventions which Vietnam signs up to; also to organize other aspects of international co-operation.

3.2. Main National Laws and Regulations in Nuclear Power

Not applicable.

4. CURRENT ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENTS ON NUCLEAR POWER

After the completion of the above-mentioned Projects, the Vietnam Government will have overall arguments related to the possibility of the introduction of Nuclear Power. There are some major arguments for nuclear power consideration:

· The country's balance of energy demand and supply resources;
· The security of energy supply and diversity of energy sources;
· The economical availability;
· The nuclear safety and radioactive wastes management;
· The environmental impacts - sustainable development.

The studies project demand for electric power up to 2020 based on three assumed growth rates of GDP. Based on medium (base) growth rate, the present installed capacity of about 6200 MW (Hydro 53%, Coal 20% and Gas/Oil 27%) is required to reach 33000 MW by the year 2020. On the other hand for high growth rate the requirement in 2020 will be 38000 MW. The study concludes that to meet these requirements, the first Nuclear power plant will have to be introduced between 2017 to 2019 depending on the growth rate achieved. This will call for a nuclear installed capacity of 1200 to 4000 MW in 2020.

Projects on Pre-feasibility studies: 2002-2004
· May 2001, Prime Minister assigned MOI in collaboration with MOST to carry out a Pre-feasibility study for the first NPP construction in VN;
· June 2001, Master Plan on Electric Power Expansion (2000-2010) with vision to 2020 including consideration of NPP's construction around 2020 was approved by Prime Minister;
· March 2002, The Steering Committee for Nuclear Power was established by Prime Minister. The Committee is compose of two main ministries MOI and MOST and some other members from various ministries. Main responsibilities of Committee are:
- Establish National strategy and long term programme for nuclear development , in charge by MOST, VAEC
- Study on Pre-feasibility for first NPP, in charge by MOI
The Committee have to submit his result by the end of 2003 to the Prime Minister then NA for consideration.

Based on national energy resources and energy demand/supply balance, the priority in electricity expansion development plan in the future is as follows:

· Hydro power plants;
· Gas-fired power plants in the South;
· Coal-fired plants in the North;
· Import electricity from neighbouring countries;
· Import ed- coal -fired plants in the North;
· Active preparation for the introduction of Nuclear power plants after 2015.

 

REFERENCES

[1] Vietnam Statistical Yearbook, Hanoi 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,2001.
[2] Institute of Energy, EVN, internal reports, Hanoi 1999,2000, 2001(in Vietnamese).
[3] Nuclear Power Centre, INST, VAEC, internal reports of KHCN-09-4 and VIE/0/009, Hanoi 1998,1999.
[4] N.T. Nguyen, L.V. Hong, N.M. Hien, Electricity and Nuclear Power Planning Study in Vietnam. INST-VAEC report, 2001.
[5] Framework of "Strategy and Policy for Energy sustainable development", Final Report of KHCN-09, Hanoi, April 2001, (in Vietnamese).
[6] Vietnam Energy Database, Final Report of KHCN-09, Hanoi, April 2001, (in Vietnamese).
[7] IAEA Energy and Economic Data Base.
[8] Data & Statistics, the World Bank, www.worldbank.org/data.

 

Appendix 1.
International, Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements

 

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
NPT related safeguards agreement INFCIRC/376.	Entry into force:	23 February 1990
Improved procedures for designation of safeguards inspectors	Prefers to apply the present system	19 June 1990
Supplementary agreement on provision of technical assistance by the IAEA	Entry into force:	01 May 1983
RCA	Entry into force:	28 August 1997
Agreement on privileges and immunities	Entry into force:	31 July 1969
NPT	Entry into force:	14 June 1982
Convention on physical protection of nuclear material		Non-Party
Convention on early notification of a nuclear accident	Entry into force:	30  October 1987
Convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or  radiological emergency	Entry into force:	30  October 1987
Vienna convention on civil liability for nuclear damage	Non-Party
Joint protocol	Non-Party
Protocol to amend the Vienna convention on civil liability for nuclear damage	Not signed
Convention on supplementary compensation for nuclear damage	Not signed
Convention on nuclear safety	Non-Party
Joint convention on the safety of spent fuel management and on the safety of radioactive waste management	Not signed
ZANGGER Committee	Non-Member
Nuclear Export Guidelines	Not adopted
Nuclear Suppliers Group	Non-Member

 

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
·        Agreement between the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the government of the Republic of India for the  co-operation for utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.	signed in 1986
·        Agreement between the government of the Republic of Korea and the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.	signed in 1996
·        Agreement for co-operation between Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission (VAEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation.	signed in 1995
·        Co-operation agreement on peaceful uses of advanced nuclear technology between Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission  (VAEC) and the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).	signed in 1996
·        Co-operation agreement between Vietnam Atomic EnergyCommission (VAEC) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).	signed in 1997

 

Appendix 2.
DIRECTORY OF THE MAIN ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANIES INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR POWER RELATED ACTIVITIES

 

NUCLEAR ENERGY AUTHORITY
Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission	Tel: 844 9423479
59 Ly Thuong Kiet	Fax: 844 9424133
Hanoi, Vietnam	http://www.vaec.gov.vn/
Ministry of Science, Technology
and Environment
39, Tran Hung Dao Street
Hanoi
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Institute for Nuclear Science
and Technique (INST)	Tel:  (844)8361432
No 5T-160, Hoang Quoc Viet	Fax:  (844)8363295
Ha Noi, Viet Nam	http://www.vaec.gov.vn/inst
Nuclear Research Institute (NRI)	Tel:  (8463)822191
No.1, Nguyen Tu Luc	Fax:  (8463)821107
Dalati, Viet Nam	http://www.vaec.gov.vn/NRI/content.htm
Centre for Nuclear Techniques (CNT)
Ho Chi Minh City
No.217, Nguyen Trai	Tel:  (848)8356568
Tp. Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam	Fax:  (848)8367381
Institute for Technology of Radioactive
and Rare Elements (ITRE)
No.48, Lang Ha	Tel:  (844)7760340
Ha Noi, Viet Nam	Fax:  (844)8350966
Vietnam Information for Science
and Technology Advance	http://www.vista.gov.vn/TestEnglish/main.htm
RCA (Regional Co-operative Agreement) Vietnam	http://www.vaec.gov.vn/~rca/