3 locations proposed for Vietnam's new, larger nuclear reactor

The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has suggested three possible sites where a new nuclear reactor should be built to replace the existing facility in its resort town of Da Lat.

The Da Lat Nuclear Research Center, which is home to the current nuclear reactor

The proposal has been sent to the the Ministry of Science and Technology, news website VnExpress reported.

Plans for the new nuclear reactor have sparked controversy since they were announced in 2012.
The planned reactor is set to replace the one in Lam Dong, which has been operating for more than 50 years and is scheduled to shut down in 10 years.

The National Atomic Energy Institute plans to build the new reactor – with a capacity 30 times larger – near the current one, which is located within Da Lat.

Since 2012, the province has repeatedly asked that the location of the future larger reactor be moved to a different location in Lac Duong District, which is 35 kilometers from the resort town.

It said the location for the new reactor should not be too close to residential areas.

It also proposed two other locations: Suoi Tre and Hang Gon communes in Long Khanh Town of Dong Nai Province, around 50 km from Ho Chi Minh City.

(Source: TNO)