Caught between increasing demand for energy and the rising cost of oil and gas, Vietnam has decided to meet its long term energy needs by resorting to nuclear power.
Currently, hydropower accounts for 50 per cent of Vietnam's electricity supply while oil and gas, and coal account for 25 and 20 per cent respectively.
Studies conducted in Vietnam in recent years have shown that by the year 2015 the total electricity yield produced from the domestic sources would not be able to meet the demand and after 2020 there would be a shortfall of 30 to 70 billion kilowatt-hour every year.
To solve the problem, Vietnam would have to depend on electricity supplies from neighbouring countries (such as China and Laos), import more oil and gas to produce electricity, or import millions of tonnes of coal every year.
But the Vietnamese argued that none of these options would be feasible due to high cost, poor technical infrastructure, or environmental problems.
According to Dr Tran Huu Phat of Dong Do University, nuclear power, despite being slightly more expensive than conventional power sources, has strategic aspects such as "diversification of energy sources, energy security, the environment and development of national potential of science and technology".
Given the aforementioned facts and justifications, Hanoi decided last month to go ahead with a project to construct nuclear power plants, the first in the Southeast Asian region.
The plant, estimated to cost around $3.4 billion, is expected to go into service in 2017 with an output between 1,400 and 4,000 megawatts.
Debate
This explained why Vietnam's ambassador to the United Nations had voiced concerns over restrictions on peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Speaking at the general debate of the 2005 review conference of the State Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapon in New York, Ambassador Le Luong Minh strongly opposed those restrictions and called for their removal.
Hanoi's decision, however, has generated fears and criticism on the grounds that it might be a prelude for developing nuclear weapon in the future possibly to deter China from invading the country.
But even if such a scenario was ruled out, given the country's scientific and technological backwardness, fears and concerns would remain over safety, technology, management and the disposal of radioactive waste.
This is not to mention the country's lack of transparency and political openness under the current communist rule.
Despite its controversial role in Iran's nuclear programme and Washington's opposition to exporting nuclear technology to other countries, Moscow has offered to implement the entire project on a turnkey basis, as well as to organise training for Vietnamese personnel.
The offer, which was viewed as part of Russia's policy of strengthening its position in Southeast Asia, would be carried out by Atomstroiexport, Russia's state-run nuclear-technology export agency and the world's only nuclear company building power units for nuclear plants in China, India and Iran.
Having resumed multidimensional cooperation with its former Cold War ally in recent years, Russia seems now to be pulling Vietnam more into its nuclear orbit.
Dr Abdullah Al Madani is an academic researcher and lecturer on Asian affairs.
