 |
| A view of the site where the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant is located in Phuoc Dinh commune, Khanh Hoa province (Photo: VNA) |
Paris (VNA) – The 14th National Party Congress should articulate a long-term strategy and firm commitment that recognises nuclear power as a clean and essential component of the national energy portfolio, with a century-long vision, according to members of the Vietnam Nuclear Professional Network (VietNuc)’s executive board.
Such a vision would span the entire nuclear cycle, from preparation and construction through 60–80 years of safe operation, and eventual fuel management. Only with a stable and long-term policy framework, they argued, can Vietnam effectively pool the expertise of its overseas Vietnamese (OV) professionals and secure sustained cooperation with leading nuclear powers worldwide.
Nuclear safety, VietNuc members stressed, must be treated as a prerequisite principle. They called for establishing an independent nuclear safety body with clear authority and direct reporting to the Prime Minister, while embedding a pervasive safety culture from policy formulation and design through construction, operations, and decommissioning. Rushing development risks failure; instead, progress should rest on solid legal structures, robust institutional framework, and proven safety governance.
Technology partners should be chosen through due diligence, focusing on those with stringent safety records, proven advanced technologies, and substantial localisation to maximise domestic content. Full-spectrum knowledge transfer is critical, encompassing training in design, construction, operations, waste handling, and decommissioning.
Building domestic talent pipelines should also be a priority. VietNuc called for policies that channel top students into specialised nuclear programmes with assured job prospects upon graduation, alongside more investment in research and development. Quality vocational training facilities, closely integrated with real-world practice, will be vital to producing enough skilled technicians as required.
At the same time, the Party and State should attach importance to infrastructure, housing, and social welfare for thousands of workers, technicians, engineers and their families who will relocate during the 5-7 years of construction. Beyond this, Vietnam must foster a broader nuclear energy ecosystem, encompassing supporting industries and sci-tech capabilities.
VietNuc’s executive board, including Chairman Bui Nguyen Hoang from the Électricité de France SA (EDF) (EDF), Ung Quoc Hung from Setec Nucléaire Group, and Vu Minh Ngoc from French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency Andra, hoped that the Congress would refine mechanisms and policies to better tap OV nuclear talents. They pushed for formal and regular channels of engagement between domestic ministries, agencies and OV expert networks, moving away from ad hoc, short-term cooperation. The Government, they suggested, should champion formal expert networks in key sectors, with groups like VietNuc serving as bridges linking global expertise with national priorities.
Beyond attractive incentives, clear legal and administrative mechanisms are needed to assign OV experts real authority, decision-making power, and accountability linked to tangible results, they said.
Flexible mechanisms should enable direct involvement in policymaking, standard setting, workforce training, and technical advisory unhindered by red tape. Their strategic advisory role should be defined in laws to ensure formal and long-term engagement. Crucially, professional independence, particularly vital in the nuclear sector, must be safeguarded, while outstanding experts should be empowered to mentor and lead the next generation.
Looking forward, VietNuc aims to deepen global networks among Vietnamese nuclear and energy professionals, creating venues for substantive academic dialogue and policy discussions. The group will broaden outreach via conferences, publications, and science communication efforts; actively support workforce upskilling with a focus on young professionals; forge ties between Vietnamese universities, research institutions, and top international centres and corporations; and act as a long-term conduit to draw both domestic and foreign experts into Vietnam's nuclear development and flagship projects./.
