The council listened to and commented on the preparation for the building of a legal framework for Vietnam’s nuclear power programme and suppliers’ proposals on technical standards for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power plants.

According to EVN representative Phan Minh Tuan, while Vietnam lacks a complete system of norms, standards and guidelines on nuclear power, foreign partners’ recommendations of applying foreign standards are feasible and acceptable.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien said both Japanese and Russian consultants affirmed the existence of the solid granite layer under the planned site for the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant,

However, further analysis of geophysical data will be needed to reach conclusion on the existence of active geological faults and risks of tsunami in the area.

Minister Quan acknowledged the efforts made by the council’s members and agreed to assign the Department of Radiation and Nuclear to hold a meeting between Vietnamese and Japanese and Russian experts on the study of the nuclear power plant’s location.

The council plans to organise four sessions in 2013, focusing on building infrastructure, national policies on nuclear power fuel and the safety inspection capacity during the implementation of the nuclear power project.