The Ministry of Science and Technology cooperates with the IAEA to review integrated nuclear power infrastructure in Vietnam
The Ministry of Science and Technology, in its role as the coordinating and leading agency for nuclear power infrastructure development, will promote nuclear power infrastructure development activities in accordance with the IAEA's recommendations.
Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister, Head of the Steering Committee for nuclear power plant construction, from 1-11 December in Hanoi, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), primarily through the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, presided over and coordinated with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies to work with the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to comprehensively assess the national nuclear power infrastructure in Vietnam (Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Mission - INIR Mission).
This is a crucial activity in the roadmap for preparing the implementation of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project and similar future projects. The INIR mission consisted of 7 IAEA experts, 3 international experts invited by the IAEA from the UK, Brazil, Bulgaria, and 1 observer from Egypt.
The mission will work with representatives of Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and related units, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN), and the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province.
Speaking at the opening of the review of the integrated nuclear power infrastructure in Vietnam on the morning of 1 December, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh highly appreciated the valuable and timely support of the IAEA as well as the experience and companionship of the experts, which are especially important to Vietnam in the process of perfecting the nuclear power infrastructure according to international standards and IAEA guidance.
The Deputy Minister affirmed that the MST, in its role as the coordinating and leading agency for nuclear power infrastructure development, will promote nuclear power infrastructure development activities in accordance with the IAEA's recommendations to meet the requirements of the first nuclear power project in Vietnam. At the same time, the MST will continue to support and advocate for cooperation activities between Vietnam and the IAEA in the development and application of atomic energy for peaceful purposes in Vietnam.
The Deputy Minister also respectfully thanked the active and responsible coordination of the ministries, central, and local agencies in preparing the self-assessment report and the necessary conditions for the INIR Mission. The companionship of domestic agencies is an important factor ensuring the overall success of this mission.
On the IAEA side, Mr. Eric Mathet, Head of the mission, stated that this mission marks a significant milestone in Vietnam's journey towards establishing a safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear power program, taking into account its safety obligations.
The IAEA highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts in preparing the self-assessment report for this mission; and encouraged open exchanges between the Vietnamese working groups and INIR to ensure the success of the mission.
According to the IAEA guidance, nuclear power infrastructure includes 19 main components covering all activities and preparations in all aspects from physical facilities, equipment, sites, auxiliary works, legal documents to economic and human resources to serve the nuclear power development program.
For a country just starting its first nuclear power program like Vietnam, the infrastructure development process must go through 3 phases marked by 3 corresponding milestones. The phases and corresponding milestones are as follows:
Phase 1 - Preparation to make a decision to launch a nuclear power program, marked by Milestone 1 - Ready to make a policy decision to launch the first nuclear power project;
Phase 2 - Preparation for the construction of the nuclear power plant, marked by Milestone 2 - Ready to invite bids for the first project;
Phase 3 - Construction and commissioning of the first nuclear power plant, marked by Milestone 3 - Ready for operation of the first nuclear power plant.
This INIR mission focuses on objectively and comprehensively reviewing and evaluating all 19 components of the nuclear power infrastructure against Milestone 2 according to the IAEA guidance.
To prepare for the mission, Vietnam's nuclear power infrastructure assessment working group, established by the MST, completed the self-assessment report and submitted it to the IAEA in October 2025.
Through this mission, the INIR Team will send a comprehensive report to the Vietnamese Government, which identifies the achieved tasks and areas that need further improvement; and at the same time offers important recommendations to support Vietnam in developing a master plan for nuclear power infrastructure development, contributing to the timely, effective, safe, and secure implementation of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, meeting the standards of the IAEA and international community./.
Translated by Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology (VJST - MOST).
