Prepare resources for evaluating nuclear power projects.

As the nuclear safety assessment agency, the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety (Ministry of Science and Technology) has taken the necessary steps in terms of personnel and technical equipment to assess the safety of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant project.

The Department has received the Nuclear Reactor Accident Simulator (PCTRAN) system, funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and organized professional training courses on nuclear safety and nuclear power plant technology.

The Department's staff participated in training courses on nuclear safety assessment, probabilistic safety analysis, and evaluation taught by experts from the IAEA and nuclear safety agencies of several countries. To prepare for the capacity to assess safety analysis reports, the Department collaborated with the Japan Nuclear Safety Agency to organize training on assessing safety analysis reports for two reference nuclear reactors: the pressurized water reactor and the boiling water reactor (PWR and BWR) of Japan...

Currently, the Department is preparing to review the site survey report and investment report for the Ninh Thuan 1 and 2 nuclear power plants. Initially, the Department is inviting Vietnamese experts from relevant ministries and agencies to participate in a specialized working group, including experts in seismology, geology, meteorology, hydrology, environment, and atomic energy.

Regarding the research nuclear reactor, the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety conducted a nuclear safety assessment of the safety measures for restarting the Da Lat research nuclear reactor after the complete conversion of fuel rods from high-enrichment to low-enrichment; and prepared for a safety assessment for transporting high-enrichment fuels to the Russian Federation...

These specific activities have helped the Department's staff gain new experience and knowledge to support the safety assessment of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant construction project.

However, compared to the actual demands of nuclear power plant assessment, the infrastructure, equipment, and personnel of the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety are still inadequate. The biggest difficulty is the small number of staff working in this field, and their lack of experience.

According to (VNA) - VT