Vietnam may pass nuclear policy in May

HANOI, Vietnam, May 6 (UPI) -- Vietnam's National Assembly is likely to approve a nuclear energy law this month.

The country's top legislator is expected to pass the law, possibly creating the opportunity for the nation's first nuclear power plant, Xinhua reported.

The proposed plant would have a capacity of 4,000 megawatts and would cost an estimated $6 billion, Vietnam News reported.

If the law is approved, Vietnam would be able to take measures to ensure nuclear energy security, said Vuong Huu Tan, head of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission.

Construction of the four-turbine power plant could start in 2015 and be fully operational by 2025; however, plans hinge on the law passing the assembly.

The plant would be built in southern Ninh Thuan province where energy shortages are more acute than other regions.

According to Electricity Vietnam, the country's biggest electricity producer, by 2025 nuclear power could account for 10 percent of the country's total electricity output.