Nhan Dan – The third international exhibition on nuclear power themed “Towards the first nuclear power plant in Vietnam” was opened in Hanoi on May 14.

Addressing the event, Minister of Sciences and Technology Hoang Van Phong said his ministry had submitted a bill on nuclear power to the ongoing third session of the National Assembly in a bid to formulate a legal foundation for nuclear energy-related applications and development in the country.

He reported that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is racing against time to complete its report on investment sources and construction of the first nuclear power plant, which is targeted to begin operation in 2020.

The event attracted the participation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), the China Guangdong Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC), and representatives from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia, France and Vietnam.

Participants will feature their capacity in designing, manufacturing, building, operating, maintaining supplying fuel for nuclear power plants; investment and construction efficiency, achievements in ensuring safety for nuclear power plants; 3 and 3+ generation nuclear power plants whose designs have been approved or already been built and operated in the world.

Domestic companies have also introduced their capacity in participating in the construction of the first nuclear power plant project in Vietnam in different stages.

The International Exhibition on Nuclear Power is held every two years. The other two took place on 2004 and 2006.

The event is jointly organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.