Institutional improvement, especially amending the Atomic Energy Law, is becoming an urgent task to create a solid legal corridor for important nuclear projects.
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| Perspective of Ninh Thuan nuclear power project in 2016. (Source: VGP) |
The application of atomic energy for peaceful purposes is a consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam. Since its promulgation in 2008, the Law on Atomic Energy and its guiding documents have made important contributions to the management of nuclear safety and security, promoting the application of atomic energy in the fields of medicine, industry, agriculture and scientific research.
According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh, the current Law on Atomic Energy has created an important legal framework for the application of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. However, after more than 15 years of implementation, many provisions in the law have revealed inadequacies, no longer suitable for the rapid development of nuclear science and technology and the requirements of international integration.
In particular, the amendment of the law became more urgent when the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 174/2024/QH15 on the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, which included the content of continuing to implement the investment policy of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project and assigned the Government to urgently direct the allocation of resources for implementation according to the conclusions of competent authorities, and at the same time study and amend and supplement relevant laws, including the Law on Atomic Energy.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the country currently has more than 1,900 radiation facilities, some nuclear facilities under the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, including the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute, which is managing and safely operating a 500kW research nuclear reactor serving research in nuclear physics, radiation physics, nuclear analysis techniques and especially producing some radioactive isotopes for medicine. In addition, Vietnam is also implementing a project to build a Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center with a 10MW multi-purpose research reactor.
Director of the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety (Ministry of Science and Technology) Nguyen Tuan Khai said that the Ministry of Science and Technology is perfecting the Law on Atomic Energy (amended) in the direction of promoting the development and socialization of atomic energy applications, ensuring radiation safety, nuclear safety and security; ensuring that the content of the Law's provisions must be clear and feasible, long-term, fully predictable and help create a legal corridor for research, development and application of atomic energy in the present and future periods.
The process of amending the law also needs to ensure consistency with international regulations, especially the guidance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international treaties in the field of atomic energy of which Vietnam is a member.
At the scientific workshop on giving suggestions for perfecting atomic energy policies and laws recently organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Associate Professor, Dr. Vuong Huu Tan, former Director of the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety, emphasized that the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project has been restarted, the need to amend the law has become more urgent.
Besides, Mr. Vuong Huu Tan said that the Law on Atomic Energy (amended) needs to refer to the IAEA model law and international experience.
Currently, Vietnam has joined most of the international conventions and treaties on nuclear safety, security, incident response and counter-terrorism, but has not joined the convention on compensation for nuclear damage. Therefore, according to Mr. Tan, it is necessary to have a State policy statement on nuclear compensation to create a basis for negotiating and signing intergovernmental agreements on the construction of new nuclear power plants and research reactors. In addition, it is necessary to have detailed regulations on nuclear compensation in the Law on Atomic Energy (amended) to be consistent with international practice.
Meanwhile, Mr. Le Duc Nguyen, Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that it is necessary to supplement and complete specific regulations on management, operation, security and safety protection for nuclear power plants and related auxiliary works. The law also needs to supplement regulations related to information security, licensing and supervision of activities related to radioactive materials.
To ensure the effective implementation of nuclear projects, the development of high-quality human resources is a key factor. Experts also proposed adding training mechanisms and requiring periodic reporting from nuclear facilities to ensure safety and transparency...
In addition to amending the Law on Atomic Energy, the Government continues to affirm its policy of attaching importance to the application of atomic energy to serve socio-economic development goals. Most recently, on February 5, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son signed Decision No. 245/QD-TTg approving the Plan for the development and application of atomic energy until 2030, with a vision to 2050.
Accordingly, the legal system, policy mechanisms and state management agencies on atomic energy are completed in accordance with international practices; the system of research, application and training facilities in the field of atomic energy is streamlined, upgraded in terms of technical facilities and human resource quality, and operates effectively; a number of areas of science, technology and application of atomic energy have strengths to reach advanced levels in the region.
According to the plan, Vietnam will urgently complete and develop the national nuclear power infrastructure to serve the implementation of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project and continue to research and implement the National Nuclear Power Development Program. Master and gradually become self-sufficient in advanced technologies and techniques, ensuring that the application of atomic energy has an effective contribution to economic and social sectors and fields...
It can be said that perfecting the institutions in the field of atomic energy is an urgent task for Vietnam to continue to develop and apply nuclear technology safely and effectively. The amendment of the Law on Atomic Energy needs to ensure consistency with related laws, in accordance with international commitments, and at the same time create favorable conditions for key projects such as Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant and the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Research...
The Government, the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant ministries and sectors are actively implementing necessary steps to soon complete the draft law, ensuring a solid legal system, contributing to the sustainable development of the atomic energy sector in Vietnam.
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