Japan, France and Russia are competing for lucrative contracts to develop nuclear plants in Vietnam, which is seeking to become the first Southeast Asian nation to use atomic power generation. Businesses and governments from the three countries are extending support, seeking contracts for a feasibility study and eventually for plant construction. A senior Vietnamese official said the country would pick a partner by considering cooperation in funding and personnel development as well as technological achievements to ensure safety. Vietnam’s zeal was demonstrated as President Nguyen Minh Triet spoke at an investment seminar in the southern province of Ninh Thuan in October. The government plans to build four 1 gigawatt reactors in the province. Two are scheduled to start operation in 2020-2021 and the others in 2021-2022. In an unusual step, the president addressed the business meeting, stressing the safety of nuclear power generation. The nuclear project, worth well over 1 trillion yen ($11 billion), was approved by the national assembly in November. An order for a feasibility study will be placed to a foreign business shortly.

Japan and other countries are aggressively pursuing the deal, believing it will boost the chances of compatriot manufacturers gaining plant construction orders. The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum Inc. (JAIF), a group of Japanese plant makers and utilities, in 2000 signed a cooperation accord with Vietnam’s Atomic Energy Commission. Japan accepted more than 400 trainees, researchers and others from Vietnam by 2007, while helping developing related laws. Plant makers such as Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corp. are also joining hands in the race.

Mitsutoshi Odera, a senior official of JAIF’s international affairs department, says getting a contract for Vietnam’s nuclear power plants is a “touchstone” for Japan’s plant exports. To back up business efforts, the industry ministry in May 2008 signed a memorandum of nuclear power development cooperation with the Vietnamese government. France, Vietnam’s former colonial power, is also aggressive. In December, Russia’s state-owned atomic energy firm agreed on cooperation for nuclear power generation with Vietnam Electricity.