IAEA reaffirms readiness to support Vietnam’s nuclear power development

The IAEA executive made the statement during a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung in Hanoi on Wednesday as part of his working visit to Vietnam.

Dung said the meeting was significant as Vietnam is studying and preparing conditions for nuclear power development.

He thanked Chudakov for his visit and for officially handing over the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) report to Vietnam.

Dung reaffirmed the country’s consistent policy of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, ensuring safety, security, and non-proliferation while fully complying with international treaties.

He added that Vietnam highly values the IAEA’s role in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and supporting member states in building nuclear infrastructure.

The deputy prime minister acknowledged the agency’s technical cooperation activities, including the INIR mission conducted in Vietnam in December 2025.

The handover of the INIR report marked an important milestone, providing practical recommendations to strengthen Vietnam’s legal and institutional framework and build technical capacity for nuclear power development.

Chudakov thanked Dung for the reception and said the IAEA had officially delivered the final INIR report, which provided a comprehensive assessment of Vietnam’s nuclear infrastructure.

He said the agency is ready to support the country through training programs, technical tools, and expert consultancy, as well as by connecting it with international partners and suppliers.

He asserted that adequate infrastructure and a high-quality workforce would be key to the nuclear power program’s success.

The IAEA, he added, will continue to support Vietnam in completing its infrastructure, ensuring the nuclear power program is implemented safely, efficiently, and in line with international standards.

The visit came as Vietnam moves to restart two nuclear power projects in south-central Khanh Hoa Province.

The projects were first approved by Vietnam’s law-making National Assembly in 2009 but were suspended in 2016 due to concerns over safety, costs, technological challenges, and shifting global energy trends.

In November 2024, the National Assembly approved the government’s proposal to resume the Ninh Thuan nuclear power projects after an eight-year suspension to strengthen national energy security and meet growing development needs.

The projects involve the construction of two plants, Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2, with a combined capacity of 4,000 MW in former Ninh Thuan Province, now part of Khanh Hoa following an administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2025.