Nuclear power, a strategic step for Vietnam's energy security

Delegates attending the 16th National Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology

At the 16th National Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology (VINANST-16), according to Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, the national nuclear power project is currently chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade , with the participation of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN).

The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for monitoring, safety assessment and technical support. In particular, the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute takes on the role of scientific and technological consultant, especially in issues related to reactor safety.

Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, Director of Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, shared at the conference.

According to Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, Vietnam is currently working with partners who have cooperated in the previous nuclear power program, including the Russian Federation and Japan, to exchange, update and promote technical cooperation contents. He said that the parties are continuing to discuss to determine the cooperation framework and appropriate steps in the new period. The policy and direction are clear; the problem is how to implement it quickly, systematically and ensure absolute safety.

Dr. Tran Chi Thanh said that in the field of nuclear power, safety is the most important factor. “Safety must be the top priority, because only when safety is ensured can there be economic efficiency. To do that, the human factor is key – from project organization and management to training of highly specialized human resources,” he said, adding that Vietnam is making efforts to learn and absorb international experience to ensure the highest safety standards.

Regarding incident response, Dr. Tran Chi Thanh affirmed that Vietnam has had experience in conducting drills and training for many years at existing nuclear facilities. This is a mandatory requirement of the nuclear industry - to always be ready for all situations to protect people and the environment. Training is a necessary preparation, not because of fear of an incident.

Regarding Vietnam's vision for nuclear power development, the Director of the Institute of Atomic Energy said that after a long time, now is the right time to restart the national nuclear power program.

“We have full policies from the Party and the State, and support from international partners who are willing to share technology, train human resources and provide safety support. However, opportunities wait for no one – if we delay, we may lose the current favorable conditions,” Dr. Tran Chi Thanh emphasized.

According to Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, nuclear power is a stable source of electricity, helping the national power system operate sustainably in the context of renewable energy sources taking up an increasingly large proportion. “We cannot rely solely on wind power and solar power – without electricity, the power system will be unbalanced. Meanwhile, nuclear power is an effective alternative to coal power, contributing to ensuring energy security and promoting green growth,” Dr. Tran Chi Thanh analyzed.

He also said that developing nuclear power not only creates clean energy but also helps Vietnam improve its scientific and technological capacity and train high-quality human resources. “Nuclear technology is now widely applied in medicine, agriculture, environment, industry... Therefore, developing nuclear power is also raising the national capacity,” Dr. Tran Chi Thanh affirmed.

The conference gathered more than 400 delegates from more than 80 domestic and foreign organizations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chae-Young Lim, Vice President of the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), emphasized: “Korea started with simple technology, gradually moving towards modernity, with the spirit of self-reliance and self-reliance. Vietnam should build its own research reactor or start the first unit, with the support of development partners. Hopefully, one of those partners will be Korea."

From an international perspective, Mr. Koguchi Masamori, President of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), said: "The Fukushima nuclear accident has taught us many lessons, we realize that everything we do must be based on the support of the people. Certainly, our knowledge and experience in nuclear safety can contribute to the development of safe nuclear power in the world, especially in East Asian countries."

XUAN QUYNH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dien-hat-nhan-buoc-di-chien-luoc-cho-an-ninh-nang-luong-viet-nam-post817165.html