In the morning of May 30, 2016, the 8th International Forum on Atomic Energy (ATOMEXPO 2016) was opened in Capital Moscow, the Russian Federation. Viet Nam’s delegation led by Viet Nam Atomic Energy Agency attended ATOMEXPO and worked with relevant agencies of ROSATOM.

The Forum was organized from May 30 to June 1, 2016, consisting 14 working sessions on the content of establishment and development of centers for nuclear science and technology for basic researches on reactor piles; integrated solutions on fuel and fuel process; management of life cycles of nuclear power plants; maximization of energy balance, environmental and economic impacts; future of nuclear energy,…

ATOMEXPO is one of biggest forums to attract, meet, exchange and negotiation among groups and leaders in the nuclear field. The Forum’s key objective was to develop international relations of the Russian Federation with countries in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific in the field of atomic energy use to exchange and provide directions on the national energy development program.

In his welcome to ATOMEXPO 2016, ROSATOM’s General Director S.V.Kirienko said that in recent years nuclear power industry has experienced basic changes and increasing had impacts on the international economy, new technologies and solutions have been created towards ensuring the safety of the global environment. He emphasized the implementation of measures proposed in the Agreement on Climate Change and the fact that gradual development of environmental-friendly power industry would change the balance of global energy for coming decades, and this is the reason why the key topic of ATOMEXPO 2016 is nuclear power - the foundation of carbon-free energy structure. This is the opportunity to discuss roles of nuclear power as a reliable, economically foreseeable and environmental - friendly source of energy.

Delivering a speech in the opening ceremony of ATOMEXPO 2016, Ms. Agneta Rising, Director of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) said that the atomic energy has been developing all over the world, in 2015 10 GW new nuclear power plants have been put into operation, which have the double capacity as compared to the average capacity connecting to the electricity grid annually during the last decade. According to Ms. Agneta, the global nuclear industry and all related stakeholders need an equal platform in nations which have plans to apply a neutral technology market framework in order to create favorable conditions for carbon-free technologies, which are not only low cost but also stable and environmentally protected. We need to develop a safe and effective model which need to increase benefits for local people through minimizing emissions from pollutants and ensuring high standards of nuclear safety. Mr. Jacques Regaldo - Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) also affirmed that safety is the first priority because it is the condition to accept and develop nuclear energy and WANO has committed to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear power industry in order to continue the nuclear safety.

Results achieved in previous 7 years of the forum have showed that this is the most practical address for agencies and organizations when discussing issues relating to nuclear power and orientations for nuclear power development for the coming time. Within the framework of the forum, there have been discussions and introductions of Russian and international leading companies in the atomic energy field, participation of leaders from Russia’s big groups as well as from international groups and the world’s leading experts.

Over the past years, Viet Nam has sent delegations consisting representatives from Ministry of Science and Technology, the Office of the Government, Ministry of Industry and Trade, People’s Committee of Ninh Thuận Province, and Viet Nam Electricity Group to attend ATOMEXPO - the 3rd Forum (in 2011), the 4th (2012) and the 7th (in 2015) to share experience and cooperation for the preparation of Ninh Thuận power plant project.

Within the framework of Advocacy Proposal on Nuclear Power Development by 2020 (Proposal 370), Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency (VINATOM) chaired the delegation including representatives of related agencies to attend ATOMEXPO 2016 and learn experience, sharing plans on advocacy cooperation on nuclear power.

The Delegation actively participated in ATOMEXPO 2016’s activities and worked with some organizations under ROSATOM as Advocacy Division, Information Center for Nuclear Power in Capital Moscow, CICET’s Exhibition room on Atomic and Nuclear Energy in St. Petersburg, Information Center for Nuclear Power in St. Petersburg. Activities of the Delegation in the Russian Federation contributed to support the implementation of Proposal 370 and the Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding on Supporting Information for joint projects in the nuclear power industry signed by leaders of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and those of ROSATOM in Hà Nội on February 03, 2015.

This time, ROSATOM also invited one MOST’s expert and 3 reporters from Viet Nam to attend ATOMEXPO 2016 and visit some nuclear units in the Russian Federation./.

Source:  Department of Atomic Energy Information and Department of International Cooperation, VINATOM