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| The layout diagram of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant, situated in Phuoc Dinh Commune, Thuan Nam District. The diagram is accessible to the public at the project site. (Photo: VNA) |
The journey towards constructing Vietnam’s inaugural nuclear power plant is a time-intensive endeavor, encompassing a multitude of stages. In recent times, the nation has taken pivotal strides to ensure that this plant commences operations by 2032, thereby addressing the country’s energy requirements and fostering sustainable development.
Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre: Forging Ahead with Top Priority
Professor Pham Duy Hien, a luminary in the field of atomic energy and former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VAEI) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, underscores the mounting significance of nuclear power development amidst global energy conundrums. These challenges encompass the dearth of clean energy sources, the looming specter of climate change, and the ever-growing energy demands.
The revival of nuclear power projects positions Vietnam to diversify its energy portfolio, fortify energy security, and fulfill its economic growth aspirations. Additionally, it aligns with the nation’s commitment to attaining net-zero emissions by 2050, as vowed during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
According to Professor Hien, nations that have successfully harnessed nuclear energy initiated their journey by studying and operating research reactors. This foundational step paved the way for the construction and expansion of their nuclear industry. In Vietnam, the Da Lat Nuclear Reactor, with a capacity of 500 kWt, embarked on its operations on March 20, 1984. Over the ensuing four decades, the VAEI’s research and development endeavors have made indelible contributions to the socio-economic landscape of the country.
The Da Lat Nuclear Reactor can be viewed as the inaugural stride in Vietnam’s atomic energy journey, and the impending construction of a Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre in Dong Nai province assumes the role of a pivotal milestone. This center will ensure that the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant project adheres to its scheduled timeline.
Hence, Professor Hien accentuates the imperative of expediting the establishment of this center, featuring a substantial research reactor, as the nucleus of Vietnam’s nuclear power development agenda.
He further expresses his conviction that the completion and operationalization of this center will serve as an incubator for cultivating the human capital requisite for Vietnam’s nuclear power plants.
Fortifying Human Resources for Nuclear Power Projects
VAEI Director Tran Chi Thanh elucidates that nuclear science and technology constitute the bedrock for socio-economic advancement and the bulwark of national defense and security. Over the years, the atomic energy sector has been quietly fortifying its workforce and human resources in anticipation of Vietnam’s resumption of its nuclear power trajectory.
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| Aerial view of the area earmarked for the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project. (Photo: VNA) |
Director Thanh underscores that restarting the project transcends a mere strategic decision for national energy security. It also catalyzes the transition to a sustainable green economy, propelling the nation’s scientific and technological prowess to unprecedented heights.
To ensure the triumph of this endeavor, the cultivation of high-caliber human resources emerges as a pivotal factor. Cognizant of this imperative, the Ministry of Science and Technology has meticulously devised plans to forge a skilled and enduring workforce, with a particular emphasis on personnel tasked with the management and execution of the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre project across its diverse stages. Furthermore, the ministry has outlined strategies to prepare the manpower essential for the safe and efficient operation of the center, along with training initiatives geared towards the construction, operation, and progression of nuclear power plants.
Cao Dong Vu, Director of the VAEI’s Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute, illuminates that over the years, the institute has undertaken a myriad of technical support projects and research collaborations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other esteemed partners.
Additionally, the institute has proactively engaged in multilateral cooperation frameworks, including the Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation and the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia. Their collaborative endeavors extend to bilateral partnerships with national-level laboratories in the United States, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and other nations.
Annually, the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute hosts and orchestrates a series of international seminars and specialized training programs. These events delve into critical areas such as radiation safety, reactor technology, nuclear applications across industries and the environment, environmental radiation monitoring, and preparedness for radiation and nuclear emergencies, as outlined by Director Vu.
Ishikawa Isamu, Deputy Head of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, affirms the VAEI’s unwavering dedication to nuclear energy research. This commitment has laid the cornerstone for restarting and propelling the implementation of nuclear power projects.
Studies encompassing nuclear power, nuclear technology, and even small modular reactor technology attest to Vietnam’s sustained continuity and perpetual readiness to contribute human resources for the advancement of nuclear power, as emphasized by Deputy Head Isamu.
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