Vietnam revives nuclear ambitions with Russian partnership
Vietnam and Russia have signed an agreement to build nuclear power plants in Vietnam. The first reactors, with a total capacity of 6,400 MW, are planned to be launched from 2030 to 2035.
Vietnam and Russia will expedite negotiations concerning constructing nuclear power plants in Vietnam. As reported by Reuters, the decision was announced on May 12 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time during Vietnamese President Tô Lâm's visit to Moscow, where he met with Vladimir Putin. Both countries stated in a joint declaration that they would intensify efforts to implement safe nuclear energy in Vietnam.
The joint statement emphasizes that the development of the power plants will adhere to nuclear and radiation safety regulations and is expected to bring socio-economic benefits. Vietnam abandoned its atomic program nearly a decade ago due to costs and evolving energy priorities.
The first reactors, with a total power capacity of 6,400 megawatts, are slated to be launched between 2030 and 2035. The Defence One portal reports that Vietnamese authorities stress that the country is open to nuclear cooperation with Russia, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States.
First plans emerged 10 years ago
This is not the first report on the planned construction of a nuclear power plant in Southeast Asia. Vietnam took the first steps towards atomic energy 10 years ago, but the project was halted. According to Reuters, these actions are part of a strategy to increase energy production capabilities, which is crucial to support the region's rapidly growing economy.
State leaders have agreed to foster cooperation in the oil and gas sector alongside investments in nuclear energy. This means Vietnam will engage in intensive economic cooperation with Russia, impacting Asian geopolitics.
