Vietnam – Russia promote the project of Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat emphasized the importance of successfully implementing the CNST Project when he and his delegation had a working session with the Russian Federation State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) on the afternoon of September 24. The working session was part of the visit from September 23-28 to strengthen the strategic cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian Federation in the fields of education, science, technology and innovation.

Highly appreciating the cooperation results, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat acknowledged Rosatom’s important contributions to the development of Vietnam’s nuclear energy industry over the past 40 years.

Regarding the CNST Project expected to be built in Long Khanh, Dong Nai, Minister Dat informed that “the implementation progress is of special concern to both sides”.

This is a project implemented under the Intergovernmental Agreement signed in 2011 and the Vietnamese Government approved the investment policy in 2018. This center will have a swimming pool-shaped nuclear reactor with a capacity of 10 MW, using low-enriched fuel manufactured by Russia.

Currently, experts have made a preliminary assessment of the research reactor construction site, showing that it is very convenient as it is about 10 km from Long Khanh city and located on the Dau Giay – Phan Thiet highway connecting to Ho Chi Minh City.

To support the examination and appraisal of the Feasibility Study Report, Safety Analysis Report and Design Documents, the Ministry of Science and Technology previously requested Rosatom to facilitate a number of Vietnamese officials to participate in the implementation of the basic design of the reactor and the accompanying safety calculations and analyses. Rosatom also assisted Vietnam in training staff to operate the research reactor.

During this meeting, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat also asked Rosatom General Director Alexey Likhachev to consider building a separate cooperation roadmap between the Ministry of Science and Technology and Rosatom Group for the period 2025 – 2030. In which, the content of cooperation in building the Atomic Energy Communication Center in Long Khanh City (Dong Nai) was emphasized by Minister Dat as “this is an important task, very necessary for the success of the CNST Project”.

He also proposed that the two sides cooperate in research on advanced nuclear power technologies to serve socio-economic development, ensure energy security and combat climate change, expected to start from 2025; The two sides coordinate to organize conferences, workshops, scientific seminars, courses to disseminate knowledge on atomic energy and nuclear power to the public, managers and related subjects; cooperate in training human resources in the field of atomic energy for Vietnam, train research staff for the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute and the atomic energy industry (coordinate with sending research staff to work at the Dubna Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) expected to start from 2025…

In addition, the Minister proposed cooperation in completing and putting into operation the National Radiation Monitoring and Incident Warning Network of Vietnam; Vietnam’s participation in the International Research Center Consortium on the basis of the Multipurpose Fast Neutron Research Reactor (IRC MBIR); Rosatom ensuring fuel supply for the Dalat Research Reactor; implementing the Cooperation Agreement, signing the Contract on the return of nuclear fuel and a number of other fields related to irradiation, nuclear medicine…

Rosatom General Director Alexey Likhachev affirmed that Rosatom is very interested in comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the field of nuclear energy. He thanked Vietnam for its support in research cooperation and human resource training and development in this field. He also agreed and supported the initiatives proposed by the Minister. Accordingly, the two sides will direct the relevant units to quickly negotiate the draft Cooperation Roadmap for possible signing in the near future.

Cooperation in the field of science and technology is considered one of the pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. During 65 years of cooperation, the two countries have signed agreements such as: Intergovernmental Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation (1992); Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy (2002); Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Research and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes (2013); Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (2008).

In November 2014, the Vietnam-Russia cooperation relationship in science and technology was raised to a strategic level when the two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement on education, science and technology.