The US Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the
United Nations Glyn Davies said that at least six countries want to be chosen
as the contractor of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plants.

Vietnam
and the US
on December 8 reached an agreement on comprehensive change of the atomic
reactor for research in Da Lat, from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to lowly
enriched uranium (LEU).

The move follows Vietnamcommitment agreed at the Nuclear
Security Summit in Washington
in April 2010.

The Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute operates an atomic
reactor of 500 KW, which was built in 1963 with the US’ assistance to produce isotopes
used in healthcare and to conduct nuclear research.

In September 2007, the US National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) assisted Vietnam
in changing part of the atomic reactor in Da Lat from using HEU to LEU and
transported 4.3 kg of unused HEU from Da Lat to Russia.

On December 1, Vietnam
and the US set up a legal
framework for their cooperation to entirely change the fuel for the reactor in
Da Lat and to transport the used HEU back to Russia.

Speaking with the media in Hanoi
on December 1, Mr. Glyn Davies said that Vietnam is taking a lead in ASEAN
for developing nuclear power with progressive viewpoints and strong commitments
with principles on safety and security. He confirmed that the US wants to cooperate with Vietnam in
commercial nuclear power.

Previously Vietnam
reached agreements with Russia
and Japan on the
construction of its first two nuclear power plants in Ninh Thuan but Davies
said that the US
is not worried about being a late comer and he believed in the prospect for
future cooperation in nuclear power between the two countries.

He said at least six countries are competing to construct
modern nuclear power plants in Vietnam,
using the best and most modern technologies. Vietnam can take a shortcut by
using the best technologies.

He confirmed that the US
doesn’t negotiate and is not interested in negotiating with Vietnam in
enriching uranium. The two sides only discuss the US’
assistance for Vietnam
to build its nuclear infrastructure facilities.

In her latest visit to Vietnam,
US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said that Vietnam
is a positive partner in civil nuclear cooperation and non-prolification of
nuclear weapons.

Thuy Chung