Archived News: Nuclear Power in Vietnam
Spontaeous Mud Erruptions
in Ninh Thuan Province
19.03.11 Local residents in Ninh Thuan Province (the province north of Binh Thuan, where Mui Ne is located) have reported a strange phenomenon that began about 6 weeks ago. Five mud mounds have appeared in farmland over a large area. The mud is composed of gray volcanic ash that is being pushed, or rather bubbling to the surface. Near the mounds cracks in the soil have appeared, several dozen meters long and up to 2 meters deep.
Authorities report no strange smell (ie sulfur) and that temperatures are normal. They believe this may be the result of a new fault line developing under the surface. They also suggest this phenomenon is likely to continue growing before it stops.
Mr. Ho Van Hung, Director Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ninh Thuan province: "We see that this is a strange phenomenon and it is also dangerous. After testing, we will report a proposal to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for professional bodies to study and propose future actions. We are also suggesting that signboards be posted to prevent unfortunate incidents from occurring.
Ninh Thuan's new geo-thermal activity should come as no surprise. All coastal provinces in central Vietnam have hot springs, the most famous of which is Binh Chau in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province (South of Binh Thuan). Along the central coast of Vietnam there are many extinct and dormant volcanoes, however there are also several periodically active sea volcanoes and volcanic islands. Large areas within Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai and Lam Dong province are plastered with volcanic ash, pumas and volcanic stones such as obsidian and geodes.
On 2 March 1923, there was an eruption at Ile des Cendres, an undersea volcano adjacent to Binh Thuan and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provinces. The eruption produced two small islands, one 30m long and 30cm high and the other 450m long and 30m high and 450 m long. The eruption stopped on 13 May 1923, and the islands were subsequently eroded below sea level. The almost yearly minor earthquakes experienced by southern Vietnam originate in this area.
The recent mud eruptions in Ninh Thuan apparently will not affect Vietnam's plans to built two nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan Province by 2014. Likewise, Vietnam's energy officials say that recent explosions at Japan's Fukushima plant will not deter the country's development of nuclear power plants.
"Vietnam is planning to build nuclear power plants," said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien. "Information and assessments of the blasts at the Fukushima No. 1 plant will act as a foundation to help Vietnam's relevant authorities appropriate nuclear power programs in the country."
As for Vietnam's nuclear power plants' ability to withstand an earthquake or tsunami, Dr Ngo Dang Nhan, director of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Bureau, said that Vietnam's 8 proposed nuclear plants will be built in areas that are "not likely to be hit by such disasters".
According to a presentation at the IAEA in 2010, Vietnam was also considering up to five proposed sites for new nuclear power plants in and around Mui Ne at that time. These sites were apparently rejected in favor of more advantageous locations in Ninh Thuan and province further to the north.
23.05.06 Atomstroiexport, Moscow's state-run nuclear-technology export agency, made known it is now bidding to win a tender offer to build Vietnam's first nuclear power plant, during a four-day international nuclear-energy fair in Hanoi this month.
Atomstroiexport has been building nuclear power plants in China, India, Iran and is now also in talks with Myanmar's regime to establish a new plant there as well.
Vietnam announced plans as early as 2000 to build its first nuclear power plant in Binh Thuan Province (Phan Thiet City) or neighboring Ninh Thuan Province. Of course, at that time, Mui Ne-Phan Thiet was not a major tourist destination as it is now, and it is unknown if this could effect a final decision regarding the location. As recently as 2000-2003, Japanese companies Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Toshiba also reportedly bid on the project. Vietnam reportedly plans to commission the US$3.4 billion plant by 2017-2020.
Sources include: Asia Times
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