Nuclear power development: 'Safety is the highest requirement'
At a working session with the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety (ATBXHN) on the afternoon of October 7, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan emphasized the need for the Department to fundamentally change its thinking and actions after being upgraded to a Type 1 Department, while proactively developing projects, attracting resources and recruiting high-quality human resources to perform the role of the national nuclear regulatory agency.
According to the Minister, in the process of developing nuclear power, safety requirements must be given the highest priority. Sharing his experience working with international atomic energy agencies, he emphasized: "There are absolutely no mistakes allowed."
The Minister requested the Department's leaders to proactively develop specific projects to attract resources and prepare high-quality human resources, ready to take on new responsibilities.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh assessed that the Department is entering a period of development of special significance, when Vietnam urgently prepares for nuclear power development. He requested the Department to evaluate the current capacity, develop a capacity map and clearly identify areas of lack and limitations. Regulatory decisions must ensure independence, be based on scientific evidence, be transparent and bring accountability to the end.
According to the report of the Department of Social Security and Safety, in recent times the unit has focused on perfecting institutions, improving state management capacity on radiation and nuclear safety and preparing resources to serve the development of atomic energy and nuclear power programs.
The Department has chaired and coordinated to advise on the development of the Atomic Energy Law passed by the National Assembly in 2025; coordinated the development and submission for promulgation of four decrees and three guiding circulars. The unit is currently continuing to develop a decree, seven circulars and documents and plans related to nuclear power infrastructure development, national-level incident response and decentralization.
The Department has also developed and submitted to the Ministry for publication 20 national standards serving the selection, assessment of locations, design and construction of nuclear power plants; Advise on promulgating a list of international standards and foreign standards to encourage application in the field of atomic energy.
Regarding long-term orientation, the Department advised the Ministry to submit to the Prime Minister for approval the Strategy for developing atomic energy for peaceful purposes until 2035, vision 2050, along with three projects on training and human resource development; Strengthen the capacity of the Department to serve nuclear power development until 2035; information and propaganda on the development and application of atomic energy.
International cooperation is also promoted with the IAEA and partners in Russia, Korea, and the United States. Accordingly, the Department signed a cooperation agreement with Russia's Rostechnadzor on radiation and nuclear safety management, organized a training course for experts in nuclear power plant site appraisal in Russia and implemented commitments in the Vietnam-Russian Federation Intergovernmental Agreement on nuclear power plants.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Linh, Director of the Department of Social Security and Safety, said that in the coming time, the Department plans to continue to improve the capacity of the team of experts, prepare human resources to serve new tasks, advise on negotiating agreements with Russia and partners, select international technical support organizations, build a digital platform on radiation, nuclear and atomic energy safety, and continue to improve the legal system in this field.
Luu Quy