OREANDA-NEWS. Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology and State Corporation ROSATOM held official plenary sessions related to nuclear legislation, safety and Vietnam - Russia cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear power.

Apart from the Ministry of Science and Technology headed by Deputy Minister Tran Viet Thanh, the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS) and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM), participants of meetings included the Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Finance of Vietnam, and the company Vietnam Electricity. Russia was represented by the State Corporation ROSATOM, the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) and ROSATOM foreign trade engineering company JSC NIAEP - JSC ASE.

The meeting was held on February 2 and 3, 2015. The key topics included progress in legal framework development, for instance, ensuring NPP safety, training highly qualified staff for Vietnam's nuclear power industry in Russia, developing the Centre for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, preparing for NPP construction and ensuring that nuclear power industry is accepted by the public. The two parties discussed the road map of cooperation in nuclear technology. Finally, the official Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Information Support of Joint Projects in the Area of Nuclear Power Industry for the period of 2015-2020 was signed by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and the State Corporation ROSATOM.

The Memorandum of Understanding highlights the main directions of the cooperation between Vietnam and Russia: (1) cooperation in developing the plan for public information and acceptance enhancement in Vietnam; (2) cooperation in developing, publishing and disseminating the information regarding nuclear power industry to meet the interests of both parties; (3) cooperation in organizing and holding international conferences and exhibitions, as well as workshops, symposia and conferences on nuclear technology; (4) organizing events for representatives of mass media, public opinion leaders and other public relations agents.

According to the Decision No. 370/QD - TTg of the Prime Minister of Vietnam on Information and Communication for Nuclear Power Development, the Ministry of Science and Technology takes primary responsibility for implementing the key task at the first stage of nuclear development in Vietnam, the comprehensive program on information and communication.

The head of the delegation, the Deputy CEO of ROSATOM Vyacheslav Pershukov, specified that the Memorandum is aimed at developing joint communication programs for promoting nuclear power in Vietnam. "The first step has already been taken: in 2013 ROSATOM opened the first Nuclear Information Centre in Vietnam based in Hanoi University of Science and Technology. We plan to work more actively on public awareness of modern nuclear technology and increase public acceptance of nuclear power in Vietnam, including round-table discussions of various issues. The Memorandum also provides for regular exchange of information and expertise, joint events aimed at promoting nuclear power, its environmental safety and reliability".

Answering the questions re schedule and cost of the construction of the first NPP in Ninh Thuan, Vyacheslav Pershukov said that the decision on the period of construction of NPP belongs to the customer - the Government of Vietnam and ROSATOM is ready to comply with it. "As for cost, it would be premature and even incorrect to give estimations now. The cost of the project will be determined by the feasibility study which is in preparation stage. The final cost will depend on geological conditions on the site, type of the project chosen and localization ratio".