Vietnam institute readies personnel for 10 MWt nuclear reactor

Vietnam’s Dalat Nuclear Research Institute is readying human resources to receive and operate a multi-purpose 10MWt nuclear reactor, said institute head Cao Dong Vu.

Vu revealed the plan at a ceremony held last week to commemorate the 40th anniversary (1984-2024) of the Dalat Nuclear Reactor in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The reactor project had an original completion schedule of 2026, but missed the 2019 deadline to begin construction. Vu did not mention a new timeframe.

Research work by the institute has helped the country manufacture nuclear equipment, produce radioactive isotopes, monitor and issue warnings about environmental radiation, and advance radiation technology, biotechnology as well as management of nuclear waste, he said.

Vu added that the research institute's medicine output is helping 500,000 patients a year.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said the ministry was working on establishing a research institute attached to a nuclear reactor bigger than the one in Da Lat.

The aim is to serve Vietnam’s goal of partially localizing the nuclear reactor and developing relevant products and services, he said.

Dat said the ministry was also cooperating with relevant agencies to complete a national nuclear energy development and application plan for the 2021-2030 period, with vision extended to 2050.

Dalat Nuclear Reactor, current the first and only one in Vietnam, has so far reached 70,000 hours of safe operation. It was established in 1963 by the U.S. with a original name of TRIGA Mark-2 Nuclear Reactor.

The facility stopped operation before the 1975 reunification of Vietnam. The former Soviet Union then helped Vietnam restart the facility in 1984 and doubled its capacity to 500 kWt.