Delegates propose accountability mechanism for nuclear waste management

Discussing the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended), on the morning of May 15, some delegates proposed to regulate the location of nuclear power plants far from residential areas; calculate the selection of construction units, and even hire foreign contractors to ensure safety.

Previously, in the report examining the draft law, the examining agency said that there were opinions suggesting continuing to review during the process of completing the draft law, selectively referring to international experience suitable to Vietnam's reality to ensure the feasibility of some regulations such as: nuclear regulatory agency, national focal point for nuclear safety management, licensing of nuclear power plant operations, facilities applying atomic energy (such as medicine, agriculture , basic investigation, etc.).

National Assembly delegates at the hall, morning of May 15. Photo: QUANG PHUC

Expressing his opinion, Deputy Pham Van Hoa ( Dong Thap ) said that the establishment of a nuclear regulatory agency is necessary, but this is an agency without precedent, so it is necessary to refer to international experience. Consider establishing only one nuclear regulatory agency for unified implementation. Deputy Pham Van Hoa also agreed with the draft when applying socialization in the field of atomic energy. This is important content, but according to the Deputy, it needs to be "condensed" into certain specific contents.

Deputy Pham Van Hoa stated that the socialization of nuclear energy, such as nuclear reactors, which is state-owned and which is socialized, if not clearly defined, will have the opposite effect and the process of socialization needs to be transparent. The Deputy also emphasized that when it comes to nuclear energy, if an accident occurs, it will be very serious, so regulations to ensure the safety of uranium enrichment facilities need special attention.

Delegate Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap). Photo: QUANG PHUC

"We have the ability to design and build nuclear power plants and nuclear reactors, or we can ask foreign countries to build them safely. Because this issue is unprecedented, it needs to be carefully considered and calculated," said Deputy Pham Van Hoa, adding that construction sites should also be calculated to be far from residential areas to ensure the safety of people. In addition, Deputy Pham Van Hoa also said that the process of drafting the law needs to be similar and consistent with the Law on Minerals to avoid overlap and ensure consistency.

Delegate Thach Phuoc Binh (Tra Vinh) said that the State's policy in the law has not clearly defined priority areas, which could lead to widespread investment. The delegate suggested that it is necessary to redefine priority areas in this field, along with that, have a mechanism to check radioactive substances and add provisions to announce and update investment priorities for each stage to serve as a basis for budget allocation, tax incentives, and encourage socialized investment in the nuclear energy sector.

Sharing at the meeting hall, Deputy Nguyen Tam Hung (Ba Ria - Vung Tau) suggested considering adding the principle of "organizations and individuals that generate radioactive substances", so that the subject is ultimately responsible for the waste they create, even when transferring to a third party, they must also be responsible for radioactive waste.

Delegate Nguyen Tam Hung (Ba Ria - Vung Tau). Photo: QUANG PHUC

"To avoid shirking responsibility and to avoid the state worrying about the consequences, I also propose to clearly stipulate that before being granted a license, organizations and individuals must come up with a solution to treat the accompanying waste, forcing the subject using radioactive sources to be responsible for their actions," Deputy Nguyen Tam Hung suggested, saying that the draft law also clearly stipulates the criteria for selecting locations to build radioactive waste treatment facilities to avoid causing risks to local security and order.

Explaining and clarifying some issues of concern to delegates, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung (the drafting agency) said that nuclear power has now become a national strategy, considered a green point, a foundation point. According to the general international trend, nuclear power accounts for 10-35% of the total national electricity.

After a period of decline, nuclear power has returned as a national strategy, because countries want to be self-sufficient in energy, carbon neutral, and reposition national technology... Nuclear power technology is currently in its 4th generation and is relatively safe. Nuclear power is the most important subject in the draft law, in terms of development, application, safety and security.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung spoke to explain and clarify a number of issues raised by National Assembly deputies on the morning of May 15. Photo: QUANG PHUC

According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, ensuring safety in nuclear power development and nuclear safety in particular will be managed by a competent state management agency, ensuring compliance with international standards, especially the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Currently, the Ministry of Science and Technology has sent a delegation to consult with the IAEA, and the IAEA has basically concluded that the regulations on radiation safety, nuclear safety and control of the draft law have ensured the principles and standards according to the IAEA.

The Minister of Science and Technology also said that to ensure safety and security for nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants, the draft law has been designed with a separate chapter on safety and security of nuclear facilities; a separate chapter on nuclear power plants, in which regular monitoring activities of the nuclear safety management agency are maintained throughout the life cycle of the nuclear plant. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that the opinions of the delegates will be fully absorbed by the drafting committee to perfect the law.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dai-bieu-de-nghi-co-che-trach-nhiem-de-quan-ly-chat-thai-hat-nhan-post795319.html