A delegation from the Russian State Duma’s Energy Committee held a working session on July 17 with leaders of the central province of Ninh Thuan on measures to speed up construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant in the province.

Deputy Chairman of the Duma’s Energy Committee Sergei Levchenko, who is leading the delegation, said the plant’s construction, undertaken by Rosatom Corporation, was too slow because of objective reasons from both sides.

According to the agreement signed earlier between the two countries, Russia will begin capital disbursement for the project in 2014. However, the plant’s technical engineering design is yet to be approved, hindering the pace of implementation. In addition, the fact that no specific agency has been named to take charge of the project’s execution is also a problem.

Secretary of Ninh Thuan’s provincial Party Committee Nguyen Chi Dung said the project has won approval of local people, but the delay could arouse concerns among the population which would not be in the interest of the project in the long term.

He urged the Russian consultants to early define the location and boundary of the project so that the province can select suitable plans to relocate local residents.

The Russian side affirmed they would do their best so that the project could meet schedule, adding that a university in Voronhez province, where there is an operating nuclear power plant, has been ready to sign a partnership with Ninh Thuan province to train human resources for the Ninh Thuan 1 plant.-VNA