Viet Nam and Assystem discuss cooperation in developing nuclear power capacities

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh highly praised Assystem's experience of over 60 years and its team of thousands of experts in the atomic energy sector.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that during the initiation phase of the nuclear power program, Viet Nam has a great demand for human resource development, technical capacity enhancement, regulatory framework improvement, and access to advanced technologies.

According to Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh, cooperating with experienced international partners like Assystem is an opportunity for Viet Nam to absorb knowledge, experience, and professional resources, gradually building domestic capabilities toward the safe and sustainable development of nuclear power.

For Assystem, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Stéphanie Aubarbier stated that the group currently has more than 8,000 engineers and experts globally, specializing in consulting and developing nuclear programs, particularly supporting countries newly entering the field such as Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

In Viet Nam, Assystem has established cooperative relationships with several key partners, including Viet Nam National Energy-Industry Group (PVN) and the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM).

As an independent French enterprise, Assystem not only understands French technologies but also possesses the capability to deploy diverse reactor technology lines in the market, while focusing on promoting local industrial development through knowledge transfer and the recruitment of local engineers.

Appreciating Assystem's comprehensive capabilities within the atomic energy ecosystem - ranging from nuclear safety assurance, industrial development, and localization to workforce training, Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinhproposed three specific cooperation directions:

First, assisting in building independent capacities for the nuclear regulatory body. Viet Nam wishes to leverage Assystem's international experience to advise and enhance the independent capabilities of the national regulatory body, especially in safety appraisal and evaluation for nuclear power projects.

Second, supporting VINATOM in developing its role as a national Technical Support Organization (TSO). This includes strengthening technical and technological capabilities, particularly in the research and development orientation for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Third, providing consultancy on the localization of the atomic energy industry. This involves identifying segments and fields appropriate to Viet Nam's practical conditions and capabilities to optimize the participation of domestic enterprises and resources, moving toward long-term self-reliance.

Sharing international experience, Mr. Stéphanie Aubarbier stated that the group previously supported Turkey in building an independent TSO and enhancing local industry capacities when utilizing Russian reactor technologies (such as the VVER-1200 line, with the participation of about 150 engineers throughout nearly 8 years of construction). These practical experiences are expected to make a substantive contribution to the safety monitoring and appraisal process in Viet Nam.

Workforce training was one of the core contents discussed in depth by both parties. Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh stated that currently, Viet Nam's leading universities (such as the University of Science - Viet Nam National University, Hanoi; Hanoi University of Science and Technology; Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology; and Da Lat University) are attracting a large number of students enrolled in atomic energy-related majors.

Training is divided into two main groups: formal degree education (under the responsibility of higher education institutions) and specialized training to enhance professional capacities for nuclear safety and state management personnel.

Ministry of Science and Technology proposed that Assystem collaborate in building intensive training programs combined with fieldwork, including visits to nuclear power plants in France, the UK, or other countries, to elevate the qualifications of regulatory officers and VINATOM researchers.

Concluding the working meeting, Mr. Stéphanie Aubarbier, Deputy CEO of Assystem, affirmed that the group's core objective is to support Viet Nam in successfully implementing its first nuclear power program, while helping enhance internal capacity for self-reliance in future projects without long-term external dependency.

Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh agreed with the aforementioned cooperation orientations and requested units under the Ministry of Science and Technology to continue coordinating closely with Assystem to materialize the discussed contents.

The Deputy Minister expects that from late 2026 to early 2027, both sides will deploy specific cooperative activities delivering clear products and outcomes, laying a solid foundation for the long-term partnership between Viet Nam and Assystem in the field of atomic energy./.