By Kim Se-jeong
Staff reporter
Mindful of increasing domestic energy consumption and needs, the Vietnamese government is paying close attention to Korea’s recent achievements in nuclear energy, the Vietnamese ambassador said.
In an e-mail interview, Ambassador Tran Trong Toan said, “In view of Vietnam’s growing demand of nuclear power projects from now to 2030, there are open opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea in this field.” Vietnam is in pursuit of eight to 10 more nuclear power plants in the next two decades.
The first plan only began late last year when the legislative body approved the construction of two nuclear power plants.
“According to the plan, the building of the first nuclear plant will start in 2014 with two generators of 2,000-megawatt capacity,” Tran said.
Russia was chosen as a partner for the first plant, the ambassador said, for Moscow has “the safest technology and has committed to help us process the whole nuclear waste.” Regarding construction of the second plant, he didn’t share any information, except that it “has so far been in the process of considering and selecting the contractor for building.” Japan, the U.S. and France are known to have made a bid, and an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that Korea has put in a tender, too.
After the successful sale of four modern nuclear power reactors to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last December, Korea’s nuclear technology export has gained momentum.
The UAE deal encouraged Korea’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy to set a target of exporting 80 nuclear power reactors worth $400 billion by 2030.
In addition, during Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Seoul two weeks ago, Korea managed to shore up the support for its nuclear bid.
The process in Vietnam is in the very early stages, and it will be awhile before the Vietnamese government announces its decision.
Based on overall relations with Vietnam, Korea has high hopes to win its first nuclear project in Asia.
Figures on bilateral trade and investment indicate an active exchange of goods and services.
Korea is Vietnam’s fourth largest trading partner after China, the U.S. and the European Union. Vietnam is the 11th largest trading partner for Korea. Trade between the two nations surpassed $10 billion last year.
The personnel exchange is also phenomenal, reaching almost 180,000 on average.
“Vietnam’s current biggest interest in Korea is to further enhance what’s already a fine and cooperative relationship between our two countries to a new stage of strategic cooperation partnership,” the ambassador said.
Tran said Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh is scheduled to visit Seoul between June 24 and 27.
The minister will attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Tourism Cultural Festival on June 25 in Seoul, and will sign a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation with his Korean counterpart.