Minister Vu Hai Quan: Nuclear safety is the paramount requirement, zero error allowed

Safety is the highest requirement

At the meeting, Minister Vu Hai Quan affirmed that in nuclear development, safety must be the highest requirement, and zero error can be tolerated. According to the Minister, this requirement demands that the regulatory body possess capacity commensurate with its mission.

"This is a responsibility to the nation and the Fatherland, not merely a routine assignment," the Minister stressed.

The Minister noted that to meet resource requirements, the agency must first proactively develop specific strategies, schemes, and operational options, thereby generating resources. In particular, he underlined the role of leadership in workforce building. According to the Minister, for talented individuals, the key issue is not only compensation, but whether they are trusted, assigned opportunities, and enabled to fully maximize their capabilities.

Proactively building capacity for the nuclear power program

Director General Nguyen Hoang Linh stated that the agency's workload has increased rapidly in recent times, with higher technical demands - especially as Viet Nam promotes the development and application of atomic energy and implements its nuclear power program.

The Agency chaired and coordinated the drafting of the Law on Atomic Energy, which was passed by the National Assembly in 2025 and took effect on January 1, 2026. It also coordinated the drafting and submission to competent authorities for the promulgation of four decrees and three guiding circulars.

Furthermore, the Agency developed and submitted 20 national standards to the Ministry for publication, serving the selection, evaluation of locations, design, and construction of nuclear power plants.

From the beginning of the year through September 2026, the Agency conducted appraisals and issued or submitted for issuance 624 licenses and 47 registration certificates; conducted inspections at 46 facilities; and penalized 9 organizations and individuals with total fines of VND 347 million.

Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and partners such as Russia, South Korea, and the United States continues to be strengthened to finalize the regulatory system, train human resources, and enhance technical capacity.

In the coming period, the Agency identified key priorities: continuing to perfect the legal system on atomic energy; enhancing capabilities in appraisal, inspection, examination, supervision, and technical support; preparing human resources for nuclear power projects; and building a digital platform for radiation and nuclear safety and atomic energy.

Building a qualified workforce to join the international arena

Deputy Minister Le Xuan Dinh noted that the Agency is entering a phase where it must possess full capacity to fulfill its role as the national nuclear regulatory body.

The Deputy Minister requested the Agency to urgently complete the system of laws, standards, and technical regulations, while clearly defining which tasks Viet Nam can perform independently and which require assistance from international consulting and technical support organizations.

It is necessary to build an ecosystem of Technical Support Organizations (TSO), mobilizing resources from the Agency, the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Institute, research institutes, universities, and capable scientific organizations.

Regarding human resources, the Deputy Minister requested the Agency to develop a "competency matrix," clearly identifying expertise gaps to formulate appropriate training and development plans.

In addition to attracting top talent, the Deputy Minister emphasized that personnel must participate in international platforms to gain experience. The Agency should strive to have staff successfully pass examinations for positions at the IAEA annually to accumulate experience before returning to serve the country. Appropriate mechanisms must also be established so that staff returning from international organizations can continue to leverage their capabilities.

During the meeting, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Science and Technology announced: The Decision on establishing the Party Committee of the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety by upgrading the Agency's Party Cell; The Decision appointing the Executive Committee of the Agency's Party Committee for the 2025-2030 tenure, consisting of 5 members. According to the Decision, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Linh, Director General of the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, serves as Party Secretary; Mr. Pham Van Toan, Deputy Director General, serves as Deputy Party Secretary.

Minister Vu Hai Quan presented the decisions and handed congratulatory flowers to the Executive Committee of the Agency's Party Committee./.