Continue to institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's policies on atomic energy.

Overview of the working session.

At the working session, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh said that the purpose of promulgating the Law on Atomic Energy (amended) is to continue institutionalizing the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies on atomic energy, enhancing the effectiveness of State management on radiation safety, nuclear safety and security; developing the application of atomic energy; contributing to creating new momentum for the country's rapid and sustainable development in the new era.

The draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended) consists of 12 Chapters and 73 Articles (a reduction of 20 articles, equivalent to more than 20% of the number of Articles compared to the 2008 Law on Atomic Energy).

The draft closely follows the four policies that the Government has basically agreed upon in Resolution No. 240/NQ-CP dated December 17, 2024 at the Special Session on Lawmaking in November 2024. Specifically: Promoting the development and socialization of atomic energy applications; ensuring radiation safety, nuclear safety and security, decentralization in State management; facilitating nuclear inspection activities; managing radioactive waste, spent radioactive sources and spent nuclear fuel; responding to radiation incidents, nuclear incidents; civil liability for nuclear damage.

Regarding procedures, the Ministry of Science and Technology drafted the Law on Atomic Energy (amended) in accordance with legal regulations. The Drafting Committee and Editorial Team were established with the participation of representatives of ministries, branches, central and local agencies, experts and scientists.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has organized to collect opinions from ministries, branches, localities, agencies, organizations, associations, enterprises, and experts on the draft Law. At the same time, it has seriously received comments to complete the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended).

On March 6, 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology sent the draft Law dossier to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal. On March 12, 2025, the Government Standing Committee gave its opinion on the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended). On March 18, 2025, the Ministry of Justice issued Appraisal Report No. 84/BCTĐ-BTP and the Ministry of Science and Technology continued to edit, supplement and submit to the Government in Submission No. 16/TTr-BKHCN.

Government members gave their opinions on the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended) at the Government's Special Session on Lawmaking in March 2025. The Ministry of Science and Technology has incorporated the opinions of Government members and the Prime Minister's conclusions to complete the draft Law.

On behalf of the review agency, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Ta Dinh Thi affirmed the necessity of amending the Law on Atomic Energy to ensure the comprehensive and direct leadership of the Party in law-making; institutionalize the Party and State's guidelines and policies on the development of atomic energy for peaceful purposes; promote decentralization, delegation of power, and simplification of administrative procedures in State management of atomic energy; inherit and develop reasonable and principled provisions of the 2008 Law on Atomic Energy; overcome shortcomings and overlaps that have caused difficulties and obstacles in the past. At the same time, comply with the principle that the law only regulates issues under the authority of the National Assembly.

Within the framework of the working session, delegates focused on contributing new points of the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended) as well as 04 policies that were basically agreed upon by the Government in Resolution No. 240/NQ-CP dated December 17, 2024 at the Special Session on Lawmaking in November 2024.

Accordingly, the ministries and branches focused on contributing opinions and making proposals on the following contents: Reducing administrative procedures and decentralizing and decentralizing power in State management of atomic energy; State management tasks on nuclear radiation safety; inspection, examination and handling of violations; trial operation of nuclear power plants; human resource development in the field of atomic energy; measures to promote the development and application of atomic energy; socialization of activities in the field of atomic energy, etc.

According to the National Assembly's legislative agenda, the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended) will be submitted to the National Assembly for comments at the 9th Session taking place in May 2025. Therefore, the opinions and proposals of the ministries and branches will be carefully reviewed by the reviewing agency before being submitted to the National Assembly for consideration./.

Center for Research and Development of Science and Technology Communication (synthesis)

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/tiep-tuc-the-che-hoa-cac-chu-truong-duong-loi-cua-dang-chinh-sach-cua-nha-nuoc-ve-nang-luong-nguyen-tu-197250404081709316.htm