Scientists have expressed deep concern over
the presence of Chinese nuclear power plants in areas close to the Vietnamese
border. A series of large-capacity nuclear reactors, 500-1,000 MW, have been
put into operation in areas near Viet Nam. Three plants are located 300-500
kilometers from Ha Noi. Ninh Thuan is where Viet Nam plans to set up its first
nuclear power plant. Sources also said that China has been building more and
more nuclear power plants and the plants tend to be set up in the southern part
of the country, or close to the northern part of Viet Nam. Chinese nuclear
power units near Viet Nam have been put into commercial operation. These
include a 1,000 MW unit in China’s Guangxi province, just 60 kilometers from Viet
Nam’s Mong Cai. The 650 MW unit of the plant in Hainan and the 600 MW unit of
the plant in Guangdong have connected the Chinese national electricity grid. Though
the next-generation nuclear power is believed to be safe, experts still show
concern about the presence of many nuclear power plants near Viet Nam. Scientists
have expressed deep concern over the presence of Chinese nuclear power plants
in areas close to the Vietnamese border. Worry about nuclear power safety is
the reason why Viet Nam has decided to delay its Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant
operation until 2028. Luu Duc Hai, Environment Dean of the Ha Noi University of
Natural Sciences, said it was necessary to propose international supervision
over the process of building Chinese nuclear power plants bordering Viet Nam. According
to Hai, with the short distance of just 200-300 kilometers, the capital city of
Ha Noi and the Red River Delta are exposed. Wastewater and cooling water from
nuclear power plants may contain radioactive substances, and if they leak out
to the East Sea, they will have adverse impacts on the marine environment of
the territorial waters of both China and Viet Nam. “It is necessary to consider
the possible impact of the Chinese power plants on Viet Nam’s environment, both
on the mainland and the territorial waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, as well as
measures to minimize risks,” he said. Meanwhile, Le Van Hong, Deputy Head of
the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Institute, suggested that Viet Nam needs to have
direct discussions with China on the risks. Viet Nam can also cite the
International Atomic Energy Agency’s convention on safety of nuclear power
plants to request China to provide sufficient information about the nuclear
power plants to be located near Viet Nam. “China is a member of the convention
and so is Viet Nam. Therefore, Viet Nam has the right to ask it to provide
information about the plants near Viet Nam it intends to build,” he said.
Viet
Nam Net – September 12 - http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/163351/chinese-nuclear-reactors-located-close-to-Viet
Nam-china-border.html
Đăng nhận xét