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Vietnam and Russia to Jointly Build Nuclear Power Plants Under Revived Deal

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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Vietnam and Russia to Jointly Build Nuclear Power Plants Under Revived Deal
A visitor looks at a model of a Russian VVER-1200 nuclear reactor of which Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant will be equipped on display at an international nuclear power exhibition being held in Hanoi on October 26, 2012. (Source: Getty Images)

Vietnam and Russia have agreed to fast-track negotiations and sign a deal to jointly develop nuclear power plants in Vietnam. The announcement was made during Vietnamese President To Lam’s visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and was confirmed in a joint statement, according to Reuters on May 12.

“The development of the plants with advanced technology will strictly be compliant with nuclear and radiation safety regulations and for the benefit of socio-economic development,” the statement reads.

Nearly a decade ago, Vietnam shelved its nuclear power program due to cost concerns and shifting energy priorities.

Now, officials expect the first reactors to come online between 2030 and 2035, with a projected total capacity of 6.4 gigawatts.

Vietnamese authorities have emphasized that the country is open to nuclear cooperation not just with Russia, but also with Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States.

In addition to nuclear energy, To Lam and Putin also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector, including shipments of Russian crude oil and liquefied natural gas to Vietnam.

Earlier, reports emerged that China was considering the development of a nuclear plant on the moon to provide energy for its planned International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a collaborative project with Russia.

This was revealed in a presentation by Pei Zhaoyu, the chief engineer for China’s upcoming Chang’e-8 lunar mission, scheduled for 2028.

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