HÀ NỘI — Energy - an important cooperation area between Việt Nam and Russia, has been continuously maintained and promoted, with Russia supporting Việt Nam in implementing the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre project with a new 10-MW reactor and human resources training, according to Trần Chí Thành, Director of the Việt Nam Atomic Energy Institute under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST).

This is the first time Việt Nam has implemented a project to build a large-capacity nuclear research reactor.

Thành said that in order to assist the verification and appraisal of feasibility study report, safety analysis reports and design documents for the project, the MST has asked Russia’s Rosatom State Atomiс Energy Corporation to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese officials to engage in implementing the basic design of the reactor and accompanying safety calculations and analyses.

Rosatom has helped Việt Nam train staff for research reactor operations. Along with building specialised expert groups serving the project, the institute has sought international partners, including those from Russia, to prepare personnel for research and application to effectively exploit the new research reactor, ensuring safety when the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre comes into operation, said the official.

He said that the institute signed a cooperation agreement with Russia’s National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University in 2017 and another with the National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI) in 2023 in research and training of personnel in related atomic energy fields.

Regarding the cooperation between the institute and Russian partners, Thành said that in the immediate future, Việt Nam and Russia will focus on speeding up the project of the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre to ensure its progress and efficiency, meeting regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). — VNS