Singapore, March 21:

Nuclear power is expected to contribute 3.3 per cent of Vietnam’s total electricity needs by 2020, rising to 4.7 per cent five years later, a top energy official said Wednesday.

Ta Van Huong, director-general of the department of energy and petroleum at the ministry of industry, said his country planned to build its first nuclear power facilities by 2015, to produce 2,000 megawatts of power by 2020.

The output from nuclear power plants is expected to increase to 4,000 megawatts, or 4.7 per cent of total power needs, by 2025, Ta said at a regional energy conference in Singapore.

A “pre-feasibility study” for the building of nuclear power facilities had been submitted to the government, he said.

Despite the arrival of nuclear energy, hydro-electric and thermal plants, along with oil and gas, will remain the main sources of Vietnam’s power. He also highlighted business opportunities in the country.

Vietnam needed 52 billion dollars in investment for thermal and hydro-power plants until 2025 and nearly 28 billion dollars to build transmission and distribution facilities, Ta said.

Soaring oil prices have prompted some developing Asian countries, including Indonesia, to look at the possibility of building nuclear power plants despite concerns over the high cost and safety.