Plans to spend £2.2bn on nation's first reactor with another in the pipeline

Vietnam’s government has reiterated plans to build its first two nuclear power plants, in the central province of Ninh Thuan.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said the first of the reactors would be up and running by 2020. Around $3.4bn (£2.2bn) is expected to be spent on the first plant.

The announcement, which opens the way for the country’s first dabble in nuclear power, came during an energy forum in Hanoi this week, held by the government and the Vietnam Energy Association.

The country said it would have to import all equipment and fuel rods for the first plant and is looking to France, the US, Japan, Russia and Canada for potential suppliers.