PM Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to establish the National Council for Atomic Energy Development and Application, which will be led by the Minister of Science and Technology.

The Council is responsible for assisting the Government chief in figuring out orientations and strategies for atomic energy development and application, identifying priority areas for each development stage, designing key policies on atomic energy development and application.

It will coordinate operations of ministries, agencies, Governmental bodies, and localities in developing and applying atomic energy, and realizing nuclear power development programs.

The Council will also cooperate with international organizations and other countries which are experienced in atomic energy field, organize surveys and collect comments from local and foreign scientists and experts on issues relevant to atomic energy development and application.

Viet Nam has reached inter-governmental agreements with Russia and Japan on cooperating to build the first and second nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan Province.

According to the approved national energy plan, the first nuclear power plant will become operational by 2020. By 2030, Viet Nam’s total nuclear power capacity will be some 10,700MW, accounting for about 7% of the country’s total electricity capacity and 10% of the total electricity output./.