Now is a critical period for Vietnam to prepare its human resources, establish a legal framework, and enhance its capacity in nuclear technology and safety. — Vietnam News
HANOI: As Vietnam looks to revive its Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, developing a skilled workforce, building a strong legal framework, and bolstering nuclear safety and technology will become critical priorities, experts say.
Nuclear power is a sector that demands very specific advanced scientific and technical expertise, requiring highly skilled human resources at every stage, from design and technology to infrastructure construction, operation and regulatory management.
These resources are not only critical to the success of projects, but also essential for ensuring long-term operational safety and efficiency.
A study by the World Nuclear Association reveals that operating a nuclear reactor at a power plant requires between 400 and 700 full-time personnel, while it takes approximately 12 to 15 years to prepare a nuclear power plant for operation.
Now is a critical period for Vietnam to prepare its human resources, establish a legal framework, and enhance its capacity in nuclear technology and safety.
Associate Professor Nguyen Xuan Hai, from the Nuclear Research Institute under the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, said that between 2010 and 2015, Vietnam sent more than 400 students and engineers to Russia, Japan and other countries for training and internships to support the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project.
However, since the project was suspended in November 2016, most of these individuals have shifted to other fields.
Technological expertise remains a significant challenge, particularly in critical areas such as nuclear reactors, nuclear materials and fuels and accelerators.
These fields often lack trained professionals due to the confidentiality of scientific and technological policies.
Even when training is available, many specialists opt to remain abroad.
This shortage of expertise is a key obstacle hindering the development of Vietnam’s nuclear energy sector.
Tran Chi Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, said that human resources will be a decisive factor in restarting the Ninh Thuan project and other major energy projects in Vietnam.
Despite the demand, the nuclear energy sector struggles to attract talent due to the complexity of the field, stringent requirements and relatively low income.
These challenges highlight the urgent need for training and retraining.
Tran noted that the government has previously launched programmes to train nuclear professionals through domestic universities and international partnerships.
Hundreds of students and staff were trained in Russia and received short-term training in Japan, France and Hungary, forming an initial pool of specialists.
For example, Japan trained 32 core staff members from Vietnam Electricity for the Ninh Thuan 2 plant.
These individuals could have become leading experts in the construction and operation of Vietnam’s nuclear power plants had the project not been suspended.
Tran proposed that Vietnam focus not only on new training, but also on mechanisms to attract previously-trained professionals back into the sector.
He suggested offering scholarships to incentivise talented students to pursue nuclear studies.
“When we restart the project, we must consolidate the existing workforce, provide further training and classify candidates for both long- and short-term training,” he told baochinhphu.vn.
Establishing a State Steering Committee staffed by proficient nuclear energy managers will also be essential.
Tran stressed the need to build a team of nuclear regulatory experts with practical experience and technical proficiency.
These experts should gain hands-on experience at foreign nuclear plants to deepen their understanding of safety issues, be ready to anticipate risks and establish regulations ensuring operational safety.
To cultivate top nuclear energy experts, Vietnam requires a national research programme addressing the challenges of nuclear power.
A comprehensive training plan across various levels must also be developed.
Currently, the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute is building a research team specialising in technology and nuclear safety analysis, along with related fields. — Viet Nam News/ANN
