Supplementing investment incentive mechanisms for small modular nuclear power

Discussing at Group 12 (including the National Assembly Delegation of Quang Ngai and Dong Thap provinces), some delegates suggested that the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on mechanisms and policies for national energy development needs to study and supplement investment incentive mechanisms, criteria for selecting enterprises and requirements on safety and security when developing small module nuclear power.

Panorama of Group 12, including the National Assembly Delegation of the provinces: Quang Ngai, Dong Thap

Removing "bottlenecks" in the development of small modular nuclear power

Paying attention to the development of small module nuclear power, National Assembly member Vu Thi Lien Huong ( Quang Ngai ) noted that the draft Resolution only stipulates incentives for state-owned and private enterprises to participate in research and investment in the development of small module nuclear power. This provision is still general, without any truly clear mechanism or policy.

According to the delegate, nuclear energy requires high-quality, specialized human resources and nuclear physics also requires absolute safety; if radioactive rays leak, it will affect the health of people around.

National Assembly Delegate Vu Thi Lien Huong (Quang Ngai) speaks

Considering that the provisions in the draft Resolution are not enough to attract state-owned and private enterprises to participate in investment research and development, delegates proposed to study and supplement investment incentive mechanisms, criteria for selecting enterprises and requirements on safety and security when developing small module nuclear power, and assign the Government to provide detailed regulations.

Also interested in developing small module nuclear power, National Assembly Deputy Nguyen Thanh Cam (Dong Thap) stated that, in addition to traditional models, we have a mechanism to develop small module nuclear power, with better flexibility, and installation at locations is also more flexible.

However, if there is only one provision in Article 10 as in the draft Resolution, it will be very difficult to implement. Noting this issue, delegate Nguyen Thanh Cam said that it is not only necessary to encourage, but also necessary to see where the "bottlenecks" and "bottlenecks" are to focus on removing them, and have specific policies for using small modular nuclear power projects. The delegate suggested that the drafting committee continue to research and perfect this content.

Instead of charter capital, we should switch to equity criteria.

Regarding Clause 2, Article 11 and Clause 1, Article 13, the draft Resolution has stipulated the conditions on financial capacity for survey units and investors of offshore wind power projects, including: Minimum charter capital of VND 10,000 billion; minimum equity capital of not less than 15% of the total investment capital of offshore wind power projects and excluding capital disbursed for ongoing projects and other long-term financial investments.

Delegate Nguyen Thanh Cam said that the criteria set out are very specific, with large capital levels, aiming to find truly capable investors to participate in new and difficult markets such as offshore wind power projects.

National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Thanh Cam (Dong Thap) speaks

However, the delegate suggested that the minimum charter capital criteria be re-examined to see if it is really necessary? Because the draft Resolution has stipulated conditions on equity capital. Moreover, in reality, the charter capital does not really fully and accurately reflect the actual capital that investors can allocate for a project, especially in cases where investors are proposing many projects or many project clusters. Equity capital is also often higher than charter capital.

Delegates discussed in groups.

Delegates said that using the criteria of the ability to mobilize equity capital for each project would accurately reflect the investor's capacity and be consistent with international practice.

“The Law on Bidding also stipulates the criteria for assessing the investor's capacity as the ability to arrange capital, the ability to mobilize loans, and other legal sources of capital”, therefore, to be consistent with the content of the draft Resolution and the Law on Bidding, it is necessary to consider adjusting the conditions on charter capital and switching to criteria on equity.

In addition to the conditions on financial capacity, delegates also proposed adding criteria for investors having experience in the electricity sector in general, the ability to use high technology, experience in implementing large-scale energy projects, experience in offshore infrastructure projects, and similar technical nature.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/bo-sung-co-che-uu-dai-dau-tu-cho-dien-hat-nhan-module-nho-10398259.html