VietNamNet Bridge – Dr Pavel A. Belousov from Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI) talks with Viet Nam News Agency about the importance of nuclear power for sustainable economic development.

How do you evaluate the importance of nuclear power to energy security?

Nuclear power is one of important energy sources. After the incident at Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, some countries who had not yet developed nuclear power expressed concerns about the energy source or halted their nuclear development plans. However, many countries have been pursuing nuclear power plans because of its advantages, such as no CO2 emissions, money saving and clean energy. In many countries, they have used advanced reactors that can use seawater instead of clean water as before. The reactors can also produce hydrogen as a clean fuel.

Viet Nam is currently suffering from power shortages, which is why the country is considering nuclear energy development.

Viet Nam is preparing to build its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan Province. Could you please explain the technology Russia will provide for the project?

I think that choosing Russia's VVER or Water-Water Energetic Reactor is suitable for this project. It is a pressurised water reactor originally developed in the Soviet Union, and now Russia. The reactors are used in many countries around the world.

I know many Vietnamese people, especially those near the site of the plant, are very worried about safety issues. With my years of experience developing nuclear power in Russia, I know that the human element plays an important role in operating the plants.

The development of nuclear power should be given priority in the national economic sustainable development and energy security plans of any country.

Rosatom – the State Atomic Energy Corporation is a state corporation (non-profit organisation) in Russia with 400 companies and research and development organisations involved in nuclear power.

Rosatom is the only vendor in the world able to offer the nuclear industry's entire range of products and services.

The corporation is number one in the world at building nuclear power plants.

As you said, human resources are an important element in operating nuclear power plants. Can you tell us about the Vietnamese students who are being trained at the MEPhI?

MEPhI is the leading university in Russia for nuclear power. The institute trains students from many different countries such as Viet Nam, Indonesia, Jordan, Turkey and Bangladesh, among others.

I believe the Vietnamese students who graduate from the MEPhI will be capable of operating the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant.

VNS