THE 8th NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Nha Trang, 20-22 August 2009

nuclear energy Applications

In viet Nam

Prof. Dr. Vuong Huu Tan

President
Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute
 contents

1. Radiation Application
2. Research and Development of Nuclear
Power
3. Forthcoming Activities
4. Conclusions

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 1. Radiation Application

1.1. In Medicine
Producing radioisotopes at Dalat
Nuclear Research Reactor. Every
year supply about 150 –200 Ci
with more 20 radioisotopes and
radio-pharmaceuticals, which are
mainly I-131, P-32, Cr-51, and Tc-
99m.
Production of Radioisotopes at Dalat NRR
Recently the Cyclotron Centers of
Cho Ray and 108 Hospitals have
produced radioisotopes for PET
and SPECT.
Current demand : about 300-400
Ci. Ir-192 and Co-60 for
radiotherapy: completely imported
around 1000 Ci/year
Tc-99m Generator
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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

Radiotherapy
 20 radio-therapy facilities
 Radio-therapy equipment: 15 Co-60
sources, 11 LINAC, 10 brachytherapy
machines, 2 gamma knifes, 1 cyber
knife vµ 12 simulators;
 About 20.000 cancer patients are
terated by radiotherapy annually;
 Manpower in radiotherapy facilities:
2000 people;
 Screening for early detection of Maintenance of Co-60
cancers has been premarily applied Radiotherapy machine at K
for cervix, breast cancer in some Hospital
provinces and cities.

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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

Nuclear medicine
 Totally there are 25 nuclear medicine facilities;
 Equipment: about 20 machines for diagnosis such as gamma
scanners, gamma cameras, SPECT, SPECT/CT. However,
only about 10 of them are in operation. 3 PET/CT machines
have been recently included;
 Such equipment and machines have been used for diagnosis
of various diseases: cardiovascular, endocrine, neutrological,
digestive diseases, cancers etc.;
 Treatment forThyroid gland cancer;
 Annually, about 500,000 patients are diagnosed and 50,000
patients are treated by nuclear medicine techniques.

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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

X-rays
 The system for X-rays departments have been established from central to
district hospitals
 Challenges:
- Lack of equipment, especially Xray machine for intervention treatment. Most
of equipment, if availabl, is old. Many provicial hospitals have no
Computerised Tomography (CT-scanners, colour untrasound scanners,
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines.
- Difficulties in manpower training and standardization
- The managing system is not performing well due to the lack of a national
network of X-rays Facilities from the State-level to regional and hospital level.
Localization of products and equipment
 Localization of products and equipment for promotion of radiation application
have been at preleminary stage.
 Some products and equipment have recently been technologically transfered to
Vietnam such as brachytherapy machines, membrance for burn tratment,
equipment for diagnosis and treatment using lazer and MRI technology;
 Radiation Sterilization Technique has not yet been applied for medical
products and instruments.

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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

1.2. In Bio-agriculture
- During the past 30 years, 50 new plant species of rice, soybean,
peanuts, tomato, chrysanthemum and apple, of which there are
32 new varieties of rice and 10 new varieties of soybeans.
Vietnam ranks the 9th in the world in the field of mutation
breeding. VN-95-20 grown on 0.3ha/y is one of 5 main rice
variety for exportation. The three main soybean varieties of
DT84, DT99, DT96 have been occupied on 50% soybean
cultivation area.
- Application of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been tried in
controlling species of fruit flies for safe vegetable production;
- Radioisotope Trace Technique has been applied to study optimal
use of water and fertilizers.

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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

Radiation measurements of Cs-

137, Be-7 vµ Pb-210 have been
applied to estimate soil erosion
and investigate the raising of the
base level of lakes;
Some plant growth promoters
and plant protectors have been
produced by application of Nghiªn cøu båi l¾ng t¹i cöa s«ng
radiation technology
Irradiation technique has been
studied and applied for food
preservation and quarantine
treatment.

Using Micro-fertilizer for

Green Tea Plants 8
 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

1.3. In industries and others

NDT Techniques have been used
in in testing and evaluation of
projects, equipment systems
(pipe, boiler, ship, etc),
inspection of goods for ensuring
security at the border gates;
At present, the application of
NDT techniques has become Detecting concrete defects at
Mü ThuËn Bridge
obligatory for certain Construction Site
construction and transportation
projects.

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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

Automatic Nuclear Control Techniques have been used in

controlling production line to measure the level of liquid in
the beverage containers, measure the thickness of materials
in the plastics, paper, corrugated iron factories etc. Nuclear
techniques are also used for quality control in glass, cement
factories etc.
Nuclear Logging and Nuclear Downhole Tools have been
applied to investigate lithology, porosity, natural
radioactivity and reservoir fluids for oil exploration and
exploitation.

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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

Radioisotope Tracer Technique

has been used for optimizing
technological processes in
many factories and
manufacturing procedures.
Recently, this technique has
been effectively applied in oil
industry for mine surveys and
investigation of water Application of TRACER
Technique at Bach Ho Oil-well
movement to increase oil
recovery efficiency by
optimizing the exploitation
process.

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1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

Although the economic scale of radiation

technology is 90% in the world, its application in
Vietnam is still very limited. There are only 4
irradiation facilities of industrial scale.
Equipment manufacture for promoting
applications of radiation technology is almost
unavailable.

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 1. Radiation Application(cont’d)

1.4. In Geology, Hydrology and Environment

Survey, Exploration and Evaluation of mineral resources using
carota techniques, nuclear analytical techniques and ®o x¹ hµng
kh«ng, ..
Evaluation of reserves, ages, origin, pollution, salification of
ground water in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and some Southern
provinces in Vietnam l­îng bæ cÊp
Investigation of the water penetration through dams for
evaluation the safety of dams;
Setting up the radiological environmental monitoring network: 3
national stations to make regular monitoring of radiation
environment; set up the database on natural radiation
environment
Study on environmental pollution using nuclear analytical
techniques and Tracer technique.

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 1. Radiation Application (cont’d)

1.5. Remarks on radiation application in Vietnam

Radiation application have been widely developed in various
areas;
Still at low level and low efficiency, not responding to the
potential and the needs;
Therefore, on 3rd January 2006, the Prime Minister
approved ”The Strategy for Peaceful Utilizations of Atomic
Energy up to 2020”, which mentioned the objectives for
promoting, expanding and improving the efficiency of
radiation application in service of socio-economic
development.

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 2. Research and Development of
Nuclear Power (cont’d)
2.1. Main Achievements
To confirm the necessity and feasibility of nuclear power development in
Vietnam;
To convincingly argue for the necessity of the introduction of nuclear
power into Vietnam based on the factors:
- primary energy sources do not meet the demands;
- difficulities in importing energy;
- diversification of energy sources to ensure energy security;
- reducing the use of fossil fuels, especially coal for environmental
protection;
-strengthening national capability of nuclear science and technology.

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 2. Research and Development of
Nuclear Power (cont’d)

Confirmed that Vietnam has uranium resources. Howver, further

investigations are required to build the policies for commercial
exploitation of uranium resources.
Established international cooperative relationships in the field of
nuclear power;
Regularly and effectively conducted public information activities
for nuclear power;
Set up and implemented nuclear education and training program.
Primarily trained some key staffs who can undertake important
tasks in the Program for nuclear power development.

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 2. Research and Development of
Nuclear Power (cont’d)

The results of Pre-FS have shown that the first NPP in

Vietnam may be put in operation in 2020, 2025 or 2030,
depending on the scenarios of electricity demands (high,
medium or basic scenarior)
According to basic scenario, total capacity of nuclear power in
2025 will be 4,000 MW (4.4% total electricity capacity) and in
2030 will be 10.000 MW (8% total electricity capacity)
1st NPP Site Selection: 2 candidate sites have been selected in
Phuoc Dinh and Vinh H¶i, Ninh ThuËn Province with 4 units,
1,000 MW each;
10 potential sites have primarily been selected for future NPPs

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 Ky Xuan
(Ha Tinh)

Vinh Linh
(Quang Tri)

Some potential sites for Duc Thang

(Quang Ngai)
NPPs Duc Chanh
(Quang Ngai)
Hoai My (Binh
Dinh)
Xuan Phuong (Phu
Yen)

Binh Tien
(Ninh Thuan)
Hon Dat Vinh Hai
(Kien Giang) (Ninh Thuan)

Phuoc Dinh
(Ninh Thuan)

18 May 2009
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 2. Research and Development of
Nuclear Power (cont’d)

2.2. Project on 1st NPP in Ninh Thuan

The Projec Ninh ThuËn 1 (Ph­íc Dinh consists of 2 subprojects:
NPP Ninh Thuan 1 in Phuoc Dinh and NPP Ninh Thuan 2 in Vinh
Hai; Total capacity: 4,000 MW; capacity of each unit is 2,000 MW
Technology: PWR
Investment Report (FS Report) on Ninh Thuan NPP was
approved by the State Council for Appraisal in July 2009;
The Government planned to submit to the National Assembly
(NA) in its coming meeting in October 2009;
After approved by the NA, the FS will be implemented in 2-3
years;
The owner submit application for permits in 2012-2013.
Bidding and signing the EPC Contract (Engineering,
Procurement and Construction) in 2013-2014.
Start construction in 2015-2016

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 2. Research and Development of
Nuclear Power (cont’d)

 Ninh Thuan 1 NPP

Phuoc Dinh Commune
Ninh Phuoc District

 Ninh Thuan NPP 2

Vinh Hai
Vinh Hai Commune
Ninh Hai District

Phuoc Dinh

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 3. Forthcoming activities

 Based on the following documents:

- Strategy for Peaceful Utilization of Nuclear Energy up to 2020
- Master Plan for Implementation of the Strategy
- Atomic Energy Law
 Completing legal documents and regulatory
framework
- Decree on guiding the implementation of the Atomic Energy Law
formulated by the MOST will be issued by October 2009;
- Decree on punishment for administrative offending formulated
by the MOST will be issued in 2009;
- Decree on NPPs formulated by MOIT will be issued by
October 2009

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 3. Forthcoming activities (cont’d)

- The Decision of the Prime Minister on the

Establishment of Atomic Energy Council
and Nuclear Safety Council, Compensation
Fund for Nuclear Accidents, Regulations
for Nuclear Inspection, establishment of
National Radiological Environment
Monitoring etc.

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 3. Forthcoming Activities (cont’d)

 Implementation of the Strategy

- Setting up the Master Plans for development of
nuclear energy application up to 2020 to submit
to the Prime Minister for approval by October
2009;
- Setting up the Detailed Plan, including Plan for
NPPs to submit to the Prime Minister for
approval by October 2009

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 3. Forthcoming Activities (cont’d)

 Detailed Plannings consist of:

1. Plan for development of radiation applications
in medicine;
2. Plan for development of radiation applications
in agriculture;
3. Plan for development of radiation applications
in industry;
4. Plan for development of radiation applications
in natural resources and environment
5. Plan for development of nuclear power.
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 3. Forthcoming Activities (cont’d)

 Detailed Projects and Programs

6. Project on perfecting legal system, organisational system,
strengthening capability of research and development and
technical support, ensuring nuclear safety, security and
safeguard;
7. Nuclear Human Resource Development Program
 Programs/Projects under formulation
1. Program on Scientific Research and Technology
Development;
2. Project on Development of the Vietnam Atomic Energy
Institute;
3. Project on Strengthening Capability of Technical Support.

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 3. Forthcoming Activities (cont’d)

 Programs/Projects under formulation

4. Project on strengthening the organization of state
management for development of nuclear energy
applications;
5. Project on strengthening national capability of ensuring
radiation protection, security for radioactive sources
and radioactive materials;
6. Project on strengthening national capability of ensuring
nuclear safety;
7. Project on strengthening the organization of State
Regulatory Body for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and
Control;
8. Project on formulating and perfecting legal and regulatory
documents;

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 3. Forthcoming Activities (cont’d)

 Programs/Projects under formulation

9. Project on preparations for joining international treaties;
10. Project on survey, evaluation and exploration of uranium
resources;
11. Project on deployment of security measures in the field of
nuclear energy;
12. Project on building capability of emergency preparedness and
response to nuclear and radioactive incidents and accidents
13. Project on planning and investment for big construction
companies;
14. Project on building National Military Center for Nuclear
Medicine and Radio-therapy at 108 Hospital.

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 4. Conclusions

In the history of atomic energy development we have

never had such advantageous conditions and opportunity
for development like at present
The Atomic Energy Law was approved by the 12th
National Assembly on the 3rd June 2008 and came into
force in 1 January 2009, creating the legal basis for the
consolidation and development of nuclear energy in
Vietnam
The Strategy for Peaceful Utilization of Nuclear Energy up
to 2020 approved by the Prime Minister in 2006 and the
Master Plan for Implementation of the Strategy approved
in 2007 have determined decisive policies for the
research, development and application of atomic energy
in Vietnam

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 4. Conclusions (cont’d)

The development of nuclear power has shifted to pre-

investment stage and gained more and more attention
and direction from the state top level leaders. In 2009
the National Assembly will consider and approve the
Project on Ninh Thuan NPP;
However, we have to encounter with a lot of challenges
in terms of legal framework, human resources,
potential of science and technology and management

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 4. Conclusions (cont’d)

Therefore, great efforts have to be made by all concerned

ministries and institutions and the whole society, especially
by nuclear scientists, most of whom are present at this
Conference;
International Cooperation has been playing a very important
role in the development of nuclear energy in general, and in
the developmentt of nuclear power in particular. With the
policies of peaceful utilization of nuclear energy, Vietnam will
receive valuable and effective assistance and support from
the world nuclear community, particularly the international
scientists who are attending this Conference, in order to
consolidate and sustainably develop nuclear energy in
Vietnam.

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 4. Conclusions (cont’d)

We do hope and believe that under the leadership

of the Vietnam Communist Party and the
Government of Vietnam, with the strong
determination and willingness of the nuclear
community, the valuable support and assistance
of international colleagues and friends from all
over the world, we will certainly be successfull in
the implementation of the Strategy for Peaceful
Utilizations of Nuclear Energy in Vietnam.

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Thank you for your attention!

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