What does the Ministry of Science and Technology say about 3 Chinese nuclear power plants?

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac, China's Fangcheng nuclear power plant is about 50km from the Vietnam-China border, the closest point. There are also two plants in Changjiang and Changjiang. A distance of 50km means nothing if an accident occurs.

Deputy Minister Pham Cong Tac also said that when there was an incident at the Fukushima plant (Japan) in 2011, we immediately measured radiation in Vietnam. At that time, engineers from two monitoring stations of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute and the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, monitored 24 hours a day, every day of the week and reported to the Prime Minister.

“Although people do not know about this monitoring, it is extremely important because if Vietnam's data is not stable, all of our exports related to food, seafood, rice, paddy, coffee, etc. will not be able to enter the markets. The monitoring facilities of the two above-mentioned units are the scientific basis to prove that Vietnam's export products (agricultural products, food) do not affect health and we can still export them,” Deputy Minister Tac informed.

China's Fangcheng Nuclear Power Plant is only about 50km from Vietnam. (Illustration photo)

In response to concerns that nuclear power plants in southern China could have radioactive impacts on Vietnam, Mr. Vuong Huu Tan, Director of the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety (Ministry of Science and Technology), said that Vietnam could apply a number of international conventions to detect nuclear incidents early if they occur. Firstly, Vietnam has joined the Convention on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents since 1987. In case of any nuclear incident, the international early notification network will provide information to Vietnam. Secondly, Vietnam also joins the Nuclear Safety Convention.

According to this Convention, member countries must submit annual reports and have the right to question them. Currently, Vietnam has received China's nuclear safety report and has sent it to relevant ministries for research and questions. China must explain these questions at the annual meeting of member countries.

According to Mr. Tan, the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology has just had bilateral discussions with China on the issue of nuclear power in this country. In the near future, a Vietnamese delegation will directly go to work and possibly sign an agreement between the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety and the Chinese Nuclear Safety Administration to have a way to exchange information on this issue.

Radiation monitoring and warning system has not been established yet.

Regarding the current environmental radiation monitoring and warning system, Dr. Nguyen Hao Quang - Deputy Director of the Institute of Atomic Energy (Ministry of Science and Technology) said: Currently, the Ministry of Science and Technology continues to direct the construction of an environmental radiation monitoring and warning network, but investment capital is limited so it has not been formed yet. The Institute has also proposed dividing the construction of this monitoring network into phases. Accordingly, it is necessary to invest in building urgent monitoring points.

“Recently, when China’s nuclear power development is very strong near the northern border provinces, we have also recommended that the radiation monitoring and warning network should be concentrated in the northern provinces to be able to monitor the impacts when incidents occur from these nuclear power plants. Currently, two units at the Fangcheng and Changjiang nuclear power plants have been put into operation. As for the Changjiang plant, three units have been put into operation,” said Dr. Quang.

According to Dr. Quang, although the overall planned network has not been implemented, the Atomic Energy Institute has still built regular environmental radiation monitoring and warning systems in the past. There are currently two stations in the national environmental monitoring system located at the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute and the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology. These two stations regularly monitor basic information on environmental radiation.

In addition, the Institute has also invested in online radiation monitoring equipment systems in localities such as Mong Cai, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Hanoi and Hai Phong. These devices are partly researched and manufactured by the Institute under the state-level science and technology program, and partly supported by partners or purchased from abroad. When the online devices are operating, the data will be transferred to the monitoring station of the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology.

According to Dan Tri