Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HANOI1204
2007-07-04 23:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COOPERATION WITH

Tags:  ENRG TRGY OTRA KGIT KNNP VM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3182
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1204/01 1852352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 042352Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5765
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3320
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001204 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/K AND EAP/MLS
DEPT PASS TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (KIRK FOGGIE)
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA/NA-21 (DOUG TYNAN, SARAH FRAZER, KEN APT,
SARAH DICKERSON)

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG TRGY OTRA KGIT KNNP VM
SUBJECT: U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COOPERATION WITH
VIETNAM

REF: HANOI 0362

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001204

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/K AND EAP/MLS
DEPT PASS TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (KIRK FOGGIE)
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA/NA-21 (DOUG TYNAN, SARAH FRAZER, KEN APT,
SARAH DICKERSON)

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG TRGY OTRA KGIT KNNP VM
SUBJECT: U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION COOPERATION WITH
VIETNAM

REF: HANOI 0362


1. (SBU) Summary: Vietnamese officials from the Ministry of Science
and Technology's Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Control
(VARANSAC) have expressed a strong willingness to sign a cooperative
agreement with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
on nuclear regulatory issues, a proposal that was originally
discussed during U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Jeffrey
Merrifield's visit to Hanoi on February 5. In a follow-up meeting
on July 1, VARANSAC General Director Ngo Dang Nhan expressed
gratitude for USG support to the Government of Vietnam (GVN) on
nuclear safety and reiterated their keen interest to develop a
cooperative agreement with the NRC. Cooperation to date has
included converting the nuclear research reactor in Dalat from high
enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, physical
security upgrades to 17 installations with radiological materials
and transfer of export "tracker" customs control technology to the
GVN. Post stands ready to take advantage of the GVN's eagerness to
conclude a bilateral cooperative agreement on nuclear and
radiological safety. End Summary.

2. (SBU) During discussions between U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifield and GVN officials on February 5 in
Hanoi (reftel),Commissioner Merrifield indicated that one of the
reasons for his visit was to explore the possibility of a bilateral
"arrangement" on nuclear regulation with the United States. Vice
Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien responded positively
to the Commissioner's proposal. VM Tien noted that Vietnam has yet
to develop a regulatory framework. He and other senior MOST
officials were "delighted" to explore a cooperative agreement with
the NRC. Such an agreement might assist the GVN to develop a 4000
MW of nuclear power plant by 2017, establish nuclear safety
regulations and guidelines for some 2000 medical and industrial
facilities that utilize radiological equipment and draft a new

atomic energy law. VM Tien encouraged Commissioner Merrifield to
discuss the cooperative arrangement further with VARANSAC.

VARANSAC on Past Cooperation and Cooperative Agreement
-------------- --------------

3. (SBU) ESTH officer met on July 1 meeting with VARANSAC Director
General Ngo Dang Nhan to follow up on the February discussions. DG
Nhan expressed gratitude for USG support to date on nuclear and
radiological safety. He noted that the visits by President Bush to
Hanoi in 2006 and President Triet to Washington in 2007 are a symbol
of the good cooperation between the United States and Vietnam and
was expressed confidence that increasing levels of cooperation would
also apply to nuclear safety. One important step is the USG support
for the conversion of the Dalat research reactor from HEU fuel to
LEU fuel.

4. (SBU) Dr. Nhan recalled that the Department of Energy's National
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) signed a basic ordering
agreement with VARANSAC in June 2005. (Note: The NNSA's
International Radiological Threat Reduction Program supports
physical security upgrades to 17 Vietnamese facilities with
high-powered radiological sources. End Note.) Dr. Nhan said that
everything is "going smoothly" and that three of these facility
upgrades have been completed. A working team comprised of experts
from Battelle Memorial Institute, a NNSA contractor, will travel to
Vietnam in late July/early August to inspect progress to date.

5. (SBU) Dr. Nhan described the GVN's strategy to develop nuclear
power by 2020, noting U.S. leadership in developing nuclear power
and regulating the nuclear industry. He stated that VARANSAC, which
was created in 2003, currently has a very limited capacity and
competency to regulate the safety and control of radioactive
materials and facilities. Therefore, the GVN is very interested in
pursuing a cooperative agreement with the NRC that could help build
the GVN's capacity on nuclear regulatory issues.


6. (SBU) Dr. Nhan described several potential areas of cooperation
that the NRC could pursue through a cooperative agreement. These
include the exchange of nuclear regulatory documents; technical
assistance to develop nuclear laws and regulations; training for GVN
officials on the need to manage radiological sources; the
development of joint activities and applications; support for the
GVN to participate in international treaties and harmonize their
laws accordingly; assistance for training similar to that supported
by the International Atomic Energy Agency; and support to develop a
system to monitor and track radioactive sources and materials,
including the importation and exportation of banned materials such
as radiological substances.

USG Provides Export "Tracker" Control Technology
-------------- ---


7. (SBU) Dr. Nhan expressed his gratitude for the export licensing
technology that the USG recently provided to VARANSAC. Under the

HANOI 00001204 002 OF 002


auspices of the State Department's Export Control and Border
Security program, which helps countries strengthen national trade
control systems consistent with international standards, Embassy
staff presented a specialized computer system valued at USD 40,000
to VARANSAC on June 27. The system, which is known as "Tracker," is
designed for use by export control officials involved in the control
of military goods and strategic commodities. The "Tracker" system
will enable the GVN to process license applications for the export,
import and transshipment of strategic commodities more efficiently.



8. (SBU) ESTHOff thanked Dr. Nhan for helping to foster the good
cooperation between the USG and GVN on nuclear safety and offered to
communicate VARANSAC's continued interest in developing a
cooperative agreement to NRC Commissioner Merrifield.

Comment
--------------


9. (SBU) Post stands ready to take advantage of the GVN's eagerness
to conclude a bilateral cooperative agreement on nuclear regulation.
Post agrees that the agreement should be signed with MOST (i.e.,
with the bureaucratic overseer of the Vietnam Atomic Energy
Commission (VAEC) and VARANSAC) to facilitate cooperation with all
these entities.

MARINE