Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien. — Vietnam News
HANOI: At the ongoing eight plenary session of the National Assembly, Industry and Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien presented a draft revised electricity law on behalf of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
After 20 years of implementation, the law had many issues that needed to be updated to keep up with modern times, Dien said.
According to the draft, the government will hold a monopoly over the investment, construction and operation of nuclear power plants, in addition to strategic multi-purpose hydropower plants, and transmission grids as they are considered key projects related to national security.
Planning for nuclear power development will be synchronised with the overall electricity development plan to guarantee power supply security.
The investment, construction, operation, decommissioning and safety of nuclear power plants must comply with the Law on Atomic Energy and other relevant laws.
Nuclear power projects must utilise modern, verified technology to ensure the highest level of safety.
Additionally, the draft also stipulates that depending on the economic and social situation of each period and specific project, the prime minister will establish special mechanisms to ensure the efficient implementation of nuclear power plant investment, construction, and operation.
Le Quang Huy, chairman of the Science, Technology and Environment Committee of the National Assembly, in assessing the draft revised law, said that the development of nuclear power was a new issue that needs further consideration.
There was also additional clarification into which fields the government would exercise monopoly over according to the draft, Huy said, adding that only absolutely necessary fields should be monopolised to facilitate mobilisation of funds from other investors, reduce public investments and improve feasibility.
The draft law also introduces regulations for electricity prices based on a market mechanism with government regulation, aimed at encouraging the efficient use of electricity.
Electricity pricing will also be restructured to be more reasonable, gradually reducing and eliminating cross-subsidies between customer groups and regions. — Viet Nam News/ANN
