Regulations on the principles of nuclear power plant design and nuclear safety monitoring.

The government has just issued Decree No. 316/2025/ND-CP dated December 10, 2025, detailing some provisions and implementation measures of the Atomic Energy Law regarding nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors.

The Decree comprises 9 chapters and 74 articles, detailing some provisions and implementation measures of the 2025 Atomic Energy Law regarding safety and security requirements for nuclear power plants and research reactors; location, design, investment decisions, construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear power plants…

This Decree provides guidance on measures to implement the Atomic Energy Law 2025 to ensure radiation safety, nuclear safety, and nuclear security throughout the lifecycle of nuclear power plants and research reactors.

This Decree applies to domestic organizations and individuals, Vietnamese people residing abroad, foreign organizations and individuals, and international organizations conducting activities related to nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors in Vietnam.

Design of nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors.

Regarding the design of nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors, the Decree stipulates the following general requirements:

a) Ensuring the performance of basic safety functions including: controlling the nuclear chain reaction; transferring heat from the reactor core and spent nuclear fuel storage areas, preventing the release of radiation;

b) Applying a systematic approach to identify critical safety items and intrinsic safety characteristics that perform or influence the fundamental safety function for all states of the nuclear power plant and research reactor;

c) Ensuring the ability to perform basic safety functions with high reliability, guaranteeing stable operation throughout the entire design lifespan;

d) For nuclear power plants, the prevention of accidents and the mitigation of consequences should be based on the results of deterministic and probabilistic safety analyses;

d) For research nuclear reactors, the results of deterministic safety analysis and probabilistic safety analysis (if any) must be based on a tiered approach;

e) Ensuring control of radioactive emissions into the environment; the amount of radioactive waste generated directly from the operation of nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors does not exceed the prescribed limits;

g) Taking into account the experience gained from the design, construction, and operation of other nuclear power plants and research reactors, as well as the results of related research programs;

h) Taking into account the possibility of decommissioning, including: plans for dismantling, handling radioactive waste and environmental remediation; minimizing the amount of radioactive waste generated from the dismantling process;

i) Facilitating nuclear inspection activities.

The master plan of Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant is posted right at the project area (Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district) for people to grasp information. (Photo: Cong Thu/VNA)

Principles of radiation safety and nuclear safety design

a) Apply the principle of protection in depth;

b) Combining passive and active safety features;

c) Applying principles of independence, redundancy, diversity, self-protection, the ability to restore operations after incidents, and limiting failures caused by the same factors;

d) Ensuring the smooth operation of calibration, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, inspection, monitoring of functional capability, and maintenance of integrity of safety-critical components;

d) Taking into account potential hazards inside and outside the nuclear power plant or research reactor, including potential hazards caused directly or indirectly by humans.

Nuclear security design principles

The decree stipulates the design principles for nuclear security, specifically:

a) The design of a physical protection system must take into account measures for access control, detection, delay, and timely response to acts of intrusion, sabotage, or theft of nuclear materials, ensuring the application of the principle of protection in depth;

b) The design of a physical security system must take into account measures to protect information systems, control systems, and digital equipment from cyberattacks and unauthorized access;

c) The design of a physical security system must be based on threat assessment, while also applying a hierarchical approach and risk evaluation;

d) Integrate the development and implementation of measures to ensure radiation safety, nuclear safety, and nuclear security, ensuring that these measures are independent and do not adversely affect each other.

The procedures for preparing, appraising, and approving the design for the construction of nuclear power plants are governed by construction laws applicable to nationally important projects.

The Minister of Science and Technology shall specify in detail the safety requirements for the design of nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors; and the requirements for physical protection systems.

Principles of radiation safety monitoring, nuclear safety, and nuclear security.

The decree stipulates the principles for monitoring radiation safety, nuclear safety, and nuclear security, specifically:

a) Comply with legal regulations;

b) Ensuring independence, objectivity, and transparency;

c) Preventing, early detection, and timely handling of safety risks;

d) Retain monitoring results;

d) Not affecting the normal operation of nuclear power plants or research nuclear reactors;

e) Monitoring must adopt a hierarchical approach to determine the appropriate level, frequency, scope, and methods of monitoring for each item, system, and activity based on the level of risk related to radiation safety, nuclear safety, and nuclear security.

Monitoring methods include: on-site monitoring; examination of records and documents; and online monitoring.

The National Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority is responsible for: establishing a monitoring office during the construction, commissioning, operation, and decommissioning phases; and developing a detailed monitoring program.

This Decree shall take effect from January 1, 2026.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/quy-dinh-ve-nguyen-tac-thiet-design-nha-may-dien-hat-nhan-giam-sat-an-toan-hat-nhan-post1082292.vnp