Government official calls for policy shift to foster growth in nuclear energy sector

The Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Buì Thanh Sơn, recently paid a visit to the Nuclear Research Institute in Lâm Viên - Đà Lạt Ward, Lâm Đông Province. During his tour, he acknowledged the significant contributions of generations of scientists and technical staff at the institute and underscored the strategic role it plays in the country's energy and technology development.

The visit also served as an opportunity to discuss plans to enhance the capacity and long-term sustainability of the Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor. The plans involve several key initiatives to ensure the reactor continues to contribute effectively to Vietnam’s nuclear science, technology, and socio-economic development well into the future.

One of the primary proposals is to study and potentially adopt new nuclear fuels that could increase the reactor's capacity by about two to three times its current level. This upgrade aims to significantly boost the reactor’s output and research capabilities.

In addition to the capacity increase, the plans include upgrading the reactor's technology systems and ensuring a reliable supply of nuclear fuel to support ongoing operations beyond 2030. This is critical for maintaining the reactor's functionality until a new reactor at the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre becomes operational.

The Deputy Prime Minister has also called for a policy overhaul to remove institutional barriers and create a favorable legal framework. This includes reviewing governance, infrastructure, and human resource frameworks to support sustainable growth of nuclear science and technology in Vietnam.

Another crucial aspect of the plans is the development of human resources. The Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor will be converted into a training ground for scientists and technicians, with special mechanisms established to attract and train talent. The aim is to raise Vietnam’s nuclear sector to the level of developed countries by 2045 through enhanced expertise and capacity building.

The development aligns with Vietnam’s long-term strategic goal to elevate its nuclear sector to developed-country standards by 2045, recognizing nuclear energy as a strategic pillar for national energy security and technological advancement.

The Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor supports a wide range of fields including agriculture, geology, oil and gas, archaeology, transportation, irrigation, and environmental protection. The Institute, led by Director Cao Đông Vũ, also supplies radiopharmaceuticals to twenty-three hospitals nationwide on a weekly basis and provides timely support for the diagnosis and treatment of around 500,000 patients each year.

Representatives from the Ministries of Science and Technology, Finance, and Education and Training, along with Lâm Đông authorities, expressed support for the proposals. The plans to enhance the capacity and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor reflect a multi-faceted approach combining technical upgrades, policy reform, and human resource investment to secure the reactor's continued contribution to Vietnam’s nuclear science, technology, and socio-economic development.

[1] Institute of Nuclear Research and Radioisotopes [2] Vietnam News Agency [3] Vietnam Television

The Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Buì Thanh Sơn, has emphasized the strategic role of the Institute of Nuclear Research and Radioisotopes in the country's energy and technology development.
The Deputy Prime Minister has voiced the need for new nuclear fuels to increase the capacity of the Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor, which could potentially lead to significant boosts in output and research capabilities.
The long-term sustainability of the Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor is contingent on upgrading technology systems, ensuring a reliable supply of nuclear fuel, and overhauling policies to remove institutional barriers.
The development of nuclear science and technology in Vietnam is a key component of the country's quest to elevate its nuclear sector to developed-country standards by 2045, with a focus on nuclear energy as a strategic pillar for national energy security and technological advancement.
The Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor's extensive impact extends across various sectors such as agriculture, geology, oil and gas, archaeology, transportation, irrigation, and environmental protection.
The Institute, under the leadership of Director Cao Đông Vũ, also contributes to healthcare and health-and-wellness by supplying radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals nationwide and supporting the diagnosis and treatment of half a million patients annually.
Representatives from the ministries of Science and Technology, Finance, Education and Training, and Lâm Đông authorities have expressed support for the proposals to enhance the Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor’s capacity and ensure its long-term sustainability.
The plans for the Đà Lạt Nuclear Reactor encompass technical upgrades, policy reform, and human resource development, reflecting a comprehensive approach to secure the reactor's continued contribution to Vietnam’s nuclear science, technology, and socio-economic development.

Government official calls for policy shift to foster growth in nuclear energy sector