Vietnam Holds Scientific Seminar on "Developing Nuclear Energy for Green Growth and National Energy Security"

On September 21, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee of Vietnam jointly held a scientific seminar on “Developing Nuclear Energy for Green Growth and National Energy Security,” aiming to explore the role of nuclear energy in addressing challenges such as climate change, meeting electricity demand, and promoting clean energy transition. The seminar emphasized that nuclear energy, as an energy source with large power generation capacity, stable operation, and low carbon emissions, can serve as baseload energy and effectively complement renewable energy that depends on natural conditions. For Vietnam, nuclear power is regarded as an important strategy for achieving sustainable socio-economic development and is expected to bring opportunities for scientific and technological development, industrial upgrading, and the cultivation of high-quality talent.

At the seminar, participants particularly emphasized the importance of safety. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh pointed out that nuclear power is a specialized field with high requirements for technology, investment, and implementation cycles, and its entire lifecycle must strictly comply with safety management regulations, and safety standards must not be lowered in pursuit of speed or short-term economic benefits. Vietnam needs to adopt advanced and mature designs and, in combination with international standards and local realities, conduct a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the project, including implementation progress, investment costs, fuel sources, spent fuel management, and plant decommissioning.

In addition to technical considerations, the seminar also emphasized the key role of human resources in nuclear power development. Vietnam needs to cultivate a professional workforce with capabilities in research, management, design, and operation, and gradually enhance the capacity of domestic supporting industries. In addition, experts also discussed new technology trends in the nuclear energy field, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as the experience of various countries in the safe construction and operation of nuclear power.

The Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant projects are considered important measures for safeguarding national energy security. Khanh Hoa Province is actively creating the necessary conditions for the smooth implementation of the projects, including land clearance, personnel training, and organization and mobilization. At the same time, the Central Propaganda Department also plans to develop a publicity plan targeting different groups to ensure that the public can learn about nuclear power-related information in a timely and accurate manner, thereby promoting social consensus and the smooth advancement of the projects. The development of nuclear power requires comprehensive preparation to truly achieve the goals of energy security and green growth.