VIETNAM NUCLEAR SECTOR MOVING FORWARD WITH U.S. SAFETY AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 000898 DEPT FOR T (JWOLCOTT, MHUMPHREY),ISN/NESS (ABURKART,PMCNERNEY), ISN/RA (RBEISECKER) AND EAP/MLS STATE PLEASE PASS TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (KFOGGIE, JMCLELLAND-KERR) DEPT OF ENERGY FOR DOE/NE (EMCGINNIS, CWELLING),NNSA/NA-21 (SFRAZER, KAPT, DKOVACIC, SDICKERSON, IBOLSHINSKY, SMOSES, ABIENIAWSKI) COMMERCE PLEASE PASS TO USTDA (DROSSITER) COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/HONG-PHONG PHO SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ECON TRGY BEXP PARM KNNP VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM NUCLEAR SECTOR MOVING FORWARD WITH U.S. SAFETY AND SECURITY ASSISTANCE HANOI 00000898 001.2 OF 004 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A high-level Department of Energy (DOE) delegation recently visited Vietnam to discuss the safe and secure development of the Vietnamese nuclear sector and Vietnamese entry into the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). Vietnamese officials seemed quite interested in GNEP, but slow, consensus-based decision-making processes may delay Vietnam's immediate, active participation. The delegation's meetings with different Government of Vietnam (GVN) entities with responsibility for development and regulation of the nuclear sector highlighted Vietnam's determination to develop civilian nuclear power and the important role the United States has played in furthering nuclear safety and security. End summary. DOE Delegation Highlights GNEP Benefits -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In meetings with GVN nuclear officials, DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Deputy Assistant Secretaries Ed McGinnis and Craig Welling previewed the soon-to-arrive invitation to the GVN from the 21 current GNEP partner countries to join that organization. The partners had unanimously decided to invite Vietnam and noted their enthusiasm for including Vietnam based on its serious consideration and responsible approach to the development of civilian nuclear energy. McGinnis stressed that GNEP covers nuclear power from mining to final disposition of radioactive waste from spent fuel with the goal to ensure reliable and affordable commercial fuel supplies for a safe and secure civilian nuclear power sector. GNEP was designed to complement, not replace the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),which supports GNEP, and other international initiatives. McGinnis emphasized that GNEP was a voluntary partnership of equals, which operated by consensus, not through the will of a few states with advanced nuclear capacities. Vietnam Interested in GNEP, but not Ready to Commit -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) High-level Vietnamese officials noted their strong interest in GNEP, with which they had become increasingly familiar. Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Vice Minister Tran Quoc Thang noted the close connection between ongoing GNEP discussions and GVN plans to conduct nuclear safety feasibility studies. Additionally, Vietnam was anxious to tap into GNEP resources to improve its infrastructure and human resources. However, several interlocutors, including Thang, stated that the GVN would complete an in-depth review before making a final decision on whether to join. Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission (VAEC) Vice-Chairman Le Van Hong reiterated Thang's comments and added that the GVN likely would seek additional information. Dr. Ngo Dang Nhan, the Chairman of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety & Control (VARANSAC),saw "the obvious benefits" to GNEP but mentioned concerns about possible Vietnamese obligations. Additionally, as several GVN entities play important roles in developing Vietnamese nuclear policy (though Thang noted that Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) would likely represent the GVN with GNEP),it may take a while for the GVN to reach internal consensus on how quickly to move forward on GNEP membership. McGinnis acknowledged GVN comments and reiterated the voluntary nature of the organization, with no resource obligations - in fact, countries just beginning to develop their nuclear sectors would be in position to receive, not provide, resources. Who's Who in Vietnamese Nuclear Power Sector -------------- ¶4. (SBU) While MOIT and state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) have responsibility for investment in Vietnam's planned civilian nuclear power sector, MOST exercises oversight over Vietnam's nuclear program and serves as the designated regulator. The VAEC, with a staff of 600, an administrative and scientific agency under MOST, advises MOST on nuclear policy and operates the Dalat research reactor. VARANSAC was established in 2003 under MOST and assists the Minister in the state management of radiation and nuclear safety and control. Its main roles include developing policies, programs, legal documents, regulations and standards on radiation and nuclear safety, licensing, regulatory inspections, environmental monitoring, emergency response, and safety assessment. VARANSAC played a key HANOI 00000898 002.2 OF 004 role in the drafting of Vietnam's new Atomic Energy Law. At the same time, however, nuclear power's high profile and importance to energy security and economic development ensure that the Prime Minister's office will track, and perhaps direct, the progress of nuclear development. In fact, despite VARANSAC's rapid growth and human resource and training upgrades, EVN noted its belief that a special task force headed by a deputy Prime Minister would supervise preparation for the nuclear sector, including the creation of the safety and security infrastructure. With U.S. Assistance, Vietnam Developing Nuclear Safety and Security Infrastructure -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Vietnam's participation in the U.S.-sponsored GNEP would continue the trend of increasingly close cooperation between the two nations on nuclear nonproliferation and safety and security issues. Vietnamese officials recognize the value of U.S. assistance, with MOST Vice Minister Thang highlighting the 2007 joint U.S., Vietnamese, and Russian initiative to convert Dalat nuclear research reactor and return fresh highly enriched uranium to Russia. In August 2007 the Department of Energy concluded a "Sister Lab" arrangement with MOST, pursuant to which DOE signed several "action sheets" with VAEC and VARANSAC detailing additional cooperation between Lawrence Livermore and Oak Ridge national laboratories and Vietnamese technical personnel on specific measures to promote nonproliferation and security objectives. VARANSAC and VAEC praised the recent Memorandum of Understanding for the Exchange of Technical Information and Cooperation in Nuclear Safety Matters between VARANSAC and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),signed during Prime Minister Dung's June visit to Washington D.C. Both DOE and the NRC provided significant assistance to VARANSAC efforts to draft the new Atomic Energy Law, which recently passed the National Assembly. Building upon these efforts, the United States and Vietnam have begun to negotiate to sign a broader MOU on nuclear cooperation, which may form the basis for an eventual Section 123 Agreement, which would facilitate U.S. commercial nuclear exports to Vietnam. EVN officials noted the upcoming U.S. Trade and Development Agency-sponsored orientation visit to the United States and wanted to ensure that their policymakers and technical experts had the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. civilian nuclear power sector. As Energy Demand Spikes, Vietnam to Increase Nuclear Energy Sources -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Vietnamese energy sector experts increasingly point to nuclear energy to supplement Vietnam's limited domestic energy generation capacity. Vietnam will soon run out of new sources of hydropower and by 2011 expects to begin importing coal. Substantial offshore natural gas reserves may be blocked by political maneuvering over control of the South China Sea. In 2006, the Prime Minister approved a strategy for the development of the nuclear power for civilian purposes (power and other applications) through ¶2020. Pursuant to the master plan approved by the Prime Minister, Vietnam intends to produce 10,000 megawatts from nuclear energy by ¶2030. Per VARANSAC, Vietnam hopes to generate 3.3 percent of its energy from nuclear power by 2020 and 4.7 percent by 2025. On June 3, the National Assembly passed the Atomic Energy Law. VARANSAC now is working to draft three government decrees to implement the law and to facilitate the growth of nuclear power. Several interlocutors explained that a recent review of energy production and demand figures led the GVN to upgrade the importance of nuclear in Vietnam's planned energy mix. Demonstrating this increasingly prominent role for nuclear power, at the same time that McGinnis and Welling visited Hanoi, the EVN Director General and VAEC chairman accompanied the Prime Minister to Ninh Thuan province south of Nha Trang to study a possible site for Vietnam's first reactors. Construction Timetable -------------- ¶7. (SBU) According to the timetable laid out by VARANSAC, Vietnam will break ground to construct its first two-reactor nuclear plant in 2013, after taking two years to finalize site location followed by a three year bidding process. VARANSAC expects construction to last seven years, with an estimated completion date of 2020. HANOI 00000898 003.2 OF 004 Vietnam plans to initially construct a 2,000 megawatts nuclear facility consisting of two reactor units of approximately 1,000 megawatts each (note: per VARANSAC, this figure could vary slightly depending upon EVN negotiations with contractors),which would be integrated by an exclusive line into a 500 kv grid, which would then be integrated into the national grid. VARANSAC stated that the first site at Phuc Dinh would be based next to the national grid. Aditional sites in Hoa Tam and Vinh Hai in Phu Yen province, to the north of Ninh Thuan, would be placed in rural areas far from population centers. VARANSAC Chairman Ngo Dang Nhan stated his desire for one common design for the first several units to promote better nuclear safety, but acknowledged that political calculations would impact design decisions. Contracting Opportunities -------------- ¶8. (SBU) VAEC and EVN recently completed a pre-feasibility study for the construction of the initial two reactors, which was approved by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and which they expect to submit to the National Assembly for approval early next year. Once approved by the National Assembly, EVN will coordinate the tender process to draft a full feasibility study, which Nguyen Phu Gia, Deputy Director of the Project Approval Department at EVN, expected to issue in October or November of this year. Subsequently, per Gia, all options for nuclear vendors and financing will be on the table and the GVN would decide upon what type of contractor and technology that it would use. (Note: VARANSAC stated that the first plant would rely upon light water technology). By March or April 2010, EVN would tender the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract, with the bid listed in the Vietnam Economic Times and on the Ministry of Planning and Investment website. EVN intended to contract with a contractor to build and operate the facility for a period of time before transferring the operations to EVN. MOIT Vice Minister Do Huu Hao noted that while EVN would be the sole investor in the first two nuclear reactors, Vietnam might open up subsequent facilities to foreign investment, possibly up to 100 percent. Vietnamese Nuclear Concerns -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Various interlocutors noted four particular concerns with the development of civilian nuclear power - financing, safety, fuel supply, and management of spent fuel. EVN acknowledged possible financing problems given Vietnam's current economic uncertainty. Indeed, Vietnam had not yet identified sources of funding to build its first nuclear plants. EVN anticipated that it would request construction bidders to identify these sources. EVN noted that it could not rely upon Official Development Assistance for the reactors, estimated to make up 45 percent of all costs, though it might be able to do so for other components. EVN expected to rely completely upon fuel imports for the first nuclear facilities and stressed its particular desire to ensure adequate fuel supplies and its concerns about any fuel supply monopolies. Though Vietnam was pondering eventual nuclear fuel production and has some nuclear mining and milling capacity, EVN noted that it did not have the ability to enrich uranium. Therefore, Vietnam sought GNEP assistance to identify needed imports for the foreseeable future. EVN is also concerned about how to dispose of or recycle spent fuel. McGinnis again noted the benefits of GNEP membership for nations looking for sustainable fuel supplies and highlighted growing U.S. enrichment capacity, while emphasizing GNEP's focus on all stages of nuclear power, including proper handling of spent fuel. Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Vietnam is serious about developing a civilian nuclear power sector and highly values U.S. safety and security assistance to meet that target. At the same time, the United States recognizes Vietnam's responsible approach to nuclear power, which seeks to further joint nonproliferation goals. Over the next few years, we expect to see even closer cooperation between the two countries, which we hope to leverage into Vietnamese entry into GNEP. Our increasingly tight safety and security relationship may provide opportunities for U.S. commercial firms to enter a rapidly developing market. However, we are not alone, as Japan, Korea, HANOI 00000898 004.2 OF 004 China, Russia, and France actively promote their nuclear sectors in Vietnam. We will need to fight for this market. ¶11. (U) This cable has been cleared with the DOE delegation. MICHALAK