Report: Vietnam may withdraw from nuke project with Russia

MOSCOW, Nov 10 (PRIME) -- The Vietnamese government has decided to withdraw from a deal to build Ninh Thuan-1, the first nuclear power plant, jointly with Russia because alternative resources have become cheaper and demand for electric power in the country has decreased, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing local media.

The government is expected to pass its plan to withdraw from the deal to the National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, which can ratify the document within November.

The National Assembly ratified a plan to build two units of the plant with Russian nuclear power corporation Rosatom and Japan Atomic Power in 2009. Construction was planned to be complete by 2027–2028, Deputy CEO of Rosatom Kirill Komarov said earlier.

The Ninh Thuan-1 power plant is projected to consist of two units based on VVER reactors with a capacity of up to 1.2 gigawatts (GW) each. Vietnam is expected to receive an 8 billion ruble loan from the Russian government for the plant construction.

(63.8928 rubles – U.S. $1)

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