VNEEP - National progaram on Energy Efficer and Conservation

Ninh Thuan Province said on Monday the development of two nuclear power projects would serve as a catalyst to attract more investment into the central province, despite earlier warnings that investors would walk away over safety concerns.

Provincial chairman Nguyen Duc Thanh asserted that the development of these two projects of national importance would spur infrastructure development in Ninh Thuan, thus attracting more investors, local and foreign alike.

He brushed off the worries that emerged following the nuclear crisis in Japan, saying no negative impact had been seen on the province’s deployment of such projects. He was speaking at a press briefing in HCMC on Monday to introduce a conference that will be organized in Ninh Thuan Province early next month.

The conference to announce the master plan on socio-economic development of Ninh Thuan until 2020 and investment promotion in 2011 is slated for December 10.

After revealing the nuclear power projects at a conference held in Ninh Thuan in October 2009, the province recorded a more satisfactory investment attraction, Thanh said. In particular, there have been 70 fresh projects added with total registered capital of VND20 trillion (some US$970 million), compared to some 200 projects licensed before the power projects were announced.

Thanh said the infrastructure in the province would benefit from the nuclear power projects.

For example, the road system stretching a combined 116 kilometers to serve the power projects will help connect other projects related to tourism, marine industry, coastal residence management and climate change tackling.

In addition, improved infrastructure will facilitate the development of the locality, create jobs and promote supporting services for the housing projects for specialists. This would trigger the development of the property market, he said.
Pham Dong, director of Ninh Thuan Province’s Department of Planning and Investment, said the nuclear power projects made the province become more appealing to local and foreign investors.

At the event on December 10, Ninh Thuan will release the master plan for socio-economic development of the province to 2020 with a view to 2030 conducted by two foreign consultancy firms namely Monitor Group of the U.S. and Arup of England.

Under the master plan, the province will focus on the development of six economic pillars, including clean energy, tourism, agri-aqua-forestry, manufacturing and processing, education and training, and property.

By LM