ROSATOM and Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute held a workshop on ecological and social aspects of nuclear power

State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM and Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) held a workshop dedicated to environmental safety of nuclear power technologies in Hanoi, Vietnam. Representatives of several key Government authorities and companies of Vietnam, such as Ministry of Science and Technologies, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Ministry for Industry and Trade, Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency (VAEA), Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and many other organizations involved in development and implementation of Vietnam national nuclear power program participated in the workshop.

President of VINATOM Dr. Tran Chi Thanh in his welcoming speech stressed importance of this subject for new industry that is currently being created in Vietnam.

"In order to build the first NPP in Vietnam successfully, besides technological and ecological aspects, public acceptance in nuclear power is another important issue. On 28/2/2013, Prime Minister approved “The plan on information and communication project in nuclear power development in Vietnam to 2020”. The purpose of this plan is to equip the society with more comprehensive understanding and knowledge about the character, the necessity and the benefit of nuclear power in energy security, socio – economic development and safety and security requirement. At present, Russia and other countries are supporting Vietnam in ensuring the necessary level of environmental safety of NPPs”, said Dr. Thanh.

At the workshop representatives of leading ROSATOM enterprises made reports and shared experience of the Russian corporation in ensuring nuclear and radiation security, both at the Russian nuclear industry facilities and when implementing projects abroad.

A representative of design institute ATOMPROEKT (a ROSATOM subsidiary) told about environmental compatibility and safety of the Russian VVER reactors. Speaker from operator-company Concern Rosenergoatom OJSC shared an experience of environmental monitoring and protection measures at existing Russian NPPs. According to Rosenergoatom’s spokesman, nuclear power plants constructed by ROSATOM within last 60 years in Russia and abroad allowed to avoid more than 15 000 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. It approximately corresponds to the 2 years blowout volume released by China or 4 years emissions of all other Asian countries.

“Nuclear energy is green in and of itself. But at the same time, it’s not a givenness: in order to achieve high level of environmental safety there is a need for serious and sustainable work. That makes environmental safety one of the key elements for newcomer countries. From our side, as a responsible vendor, we are ready to share with Vietnam partners our expertise in this sphere to the full extent”, declared Egor Simonov, Head of ROSATOM in Southeast Asia.

In addition, according to him, in the development of nuclear power programmes it’s important not only to achieve necessary level of environmental safety of nuclear power, but also succeed in its public awareness. This aspect was discussed separately during one of the sessions at the workshop, where ROSATOM shared its best practices in the area of nuclear energy public acceptance in Russia and other countries of the company’s operations.

During the session several cases were presented based on the experience of the Russian corporation, including fishing contests at cooling ponds of NPPs, educational films, TV shows and mobile applications about nuclear technologies, as well as press-tours to Russian nuclear energy industry, where Vietnam media traditionally take part. ROSATOM offers a complex support in the nuclear energy stakeholder involvement to its partners all over the world, including Vietnam. Thus, Information Center on Nuclear Energy established by ROSATOM is operating in Hanoi. It’s Director, Professor of Hanoi Polytechnic University Dr. Ha Manh Thu outlined that “According to the statistics, more than 80% of visitors change their attitudes towards nuclear technologies after visiting information centers”.

Moreover, experts from South Africa and Indonesia shared their experience in the area of nuclear technologies public acceptance.

“Facing the energy crisis in Indonesia, the statement for going nuclear should be declared by government as soon as possible, in order to have public acceptance. Therefore the people could follow the leader decision,” said Dr. Arnold Soetrisnanto, Chairman of the Indonesian Nuclear Society (HIMNI) in his report devoted to Indonesian concerns in nuclear energy socialization.

Dr. Kelvin Kemm, a renowned expert from SA and CEO of Nuclear Africa Ltd, in his presentation compared the real state of nuclear technologies with their public perception.

“The world, particularly the developing world is going to have to double its electricity output rapidly to provide for the economic goals of the people. Nuclear power is a world business, so many countries need to work together to achieve the goals,” he claimed.