S.Korea wants to build Vietnam nuclear plants

HANOI, Nov 17 (Reuters) South Korea wants its firms to build as many as four nuclear power plants planned by energy-hungry Vietnam, President Roh Moo-hyun told Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet on Friday.

Vietnam is seeking foreign investment to build 60 power plants between now and 2020 including nuclear plants, Vietnamese officials have said.

''President Roh expressed hope that our firms participate in Vietnam's nuclear power project,'' Roh's office said in a statement after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Vietnam plans to build up to four nuclear power plants, each with capacity of more than 1,000 megawatts, as part of its drive to meet surging power demand fuelled by a fast-expanding economy, Roh's office said.

Triet did not give his firm commitment to Roh's request but said his government would actively consider it, the statement by Roh's office said.

Foreign investment in Vietnam's power industry has picked up significantly after Hanoi announced plans to gradually liberalise the sector and raise retail prices.

Most foreign firms are interested in tapping Vietnam's coal and natural gas resources to fuel their power plant projects.

Hydropower plants account for 40 percent of Vietnam's generating capacity of around 11,500 MW, while 30 percent is generated by gas-fired plants and the remainder from coal-fired and fuel oil-fired plants. It has no nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power plays an important role in providing energy in South Korea, which imports all of its oil and liquefied gas.

South Korea currently has 20 nuclear reactors providing some 40 percent of the country's electricity. Two more plants are under construction.

REUTERS SBA RAI2102