(VOVworld) - The Ministry of Science and Technology and the International Atomic Energy Agency held a joint conference on Thursday on developing the country’s infrastructure.

Persective of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power station (source: internet)

The delegates discussed Vietnam’s current nuclear power infrastructure, key issues when developing nuclear power and challenges and solutions for the new nuclear power program. The conference also aimed to seek out partners to help build Vietnam’s 1^st nuclear power station in Ninh Thuan province. Minister of Science and Technology, Nguyen Quan says: “Upholding our the policy of using nuclear power for peaceful purposes only to ensure the nation’s energy  security, Vietnam will carry out a nuclear power program, based on the nation’s existing infrastructure which has been studied and prepared for development. This includes recruiting personnel for the country’s nuclear program, which strictly abides by international law on nuclear safety, security, and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.”

Vietnam has been preparing for a nuclear power station since the 1960s, including the necessary human resources with the Da Lat nuclear reactor being reactivated in 2001. The country has completed the various legal agreements and has worked out a program for building the country’s first nuclear power station in the southern province of Binh Thuan. It is scheduled to start construction in 2014 and be in operation in 2020. Over the years, Vietnam’s nuclear power sector has received a lot of help from the international community, including the International Atomic Energy Agency.