Vietnam eyes nuke plant

Vietnam eyes nuke plant

HANOI (AFP): Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has ordered a pre-feasibility study for the construction of the communist state's first nuclear power station, an official daily reported Saturday.

Khai instructed Industry Minister Dang Vu Chu to complete the study by the end of year, the information ministry's Van Hoa newspaper said.

Even though Vietnam is a producer of both oil and gas, the communist authorities have long wanted to develop a nuclear energy program. The pre-feasibility study is the first concrete step.