The Ministry of Science and Technology in conjunction with theInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Ministry of Industryand Trade held a workshop on August 23 in Hanoi, to discuss developingthe infrastructure for Vietnam’s future nuclear power industry.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan, who is also deputyhead of the State Steering Committee for the Ninh Thuan Nuclear PowerProject, chaired the workshop.

This was anopportunity for Vietnamese policy makers, nuclear technology specialistsand managers to discuss issues concerning the preparation, constructionand development of the necessary infrastructure with IAEArepresentatives and specialists from Russia and Japan. This willensure the successful construction and operation of the Ninh Thuannuclear power plant, the first of its kind in Vietnam, and otherVietnamese development programmes in this sector in the future.

Addressing the workshop, Quan stated that Vietnam always attaches agreat deal of importance to strengthening and expanding cooperation withthe IAEA and other countries that have advanced nuclear powerindustries, including Russia and Japan.

Alexander Bychkov, the IAEA’s Deputy Director General, said that theagency will continue to support Vietnam to develop its own domesticnuclear industry.

During the workshop, theparticipants heard reports on the state of Vietnam’s nuclear powerinfrastructure and the key issues that need to be considered, as well aslearn from Russia and Japan’s experiences in developing this sector,especially after last year’s disaster at Fukushima.-VNA