Hanoi (VNA) - 𝐆Dalat Nuclear Reactor, current the first and only one in Vietnam, has so far reached 70,000 hours of safe operation, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat told a meeting held to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, on March 23.

The 250 kWt facility was established in 1963 by the US with an original name of TRIGA Mark-2 Nuclear Reactor. It stopped operation before the 1975 reunification of Vietnam, and restarted in 1984 with its capacity doubled to 500 kWt. The reactor has been used effectively to produce radioactive isotopes, and serve activation analysis, scientific research, and personnel training, for national construction and development.

Thanks to the reactor and other scientific equipment, the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute has gained remarkable achievements in scientific research and technology transfer to support national socioeconomic development. The institute has been recognised by research agencies and production facilities at home and abroad, especially in producing radioactive isotopes, manufacturing nuclear equipment, monitoring, and issuing warnings about environmental radiation, advancing radiation technology and biotechnology, and managing nuclear waste. Head of the Institute Cao Dong Vu said the institute has paid attention to human resources development and international integration, adding that it has actively engaged in multilateral cooperation, notably with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Regional Co-operative Agreement (RCA) for Asia and the Pacific, and bilateral cooperation with the US, Russia, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (RoK). According to the official, the institute is readying human resources to receive and operate a multi-purpose 10MWt nuclear reactor.

Dat affirmed that the Vietnamese atomic energy sector is proud to build a pool of trained, multi-sectoral scientific and technical officials. They contributed to the implementation of the strategy on applying atomic energy for peaceful purposes to 2020. This strategy classified the research and application of radiation and radioactive isotopes as important tasks. The Ministry of Science and Technology is also working with other ministries and agencies to sketch out a planning scheme for the development and application of atomic energy for 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050, he continued. Dat said the ministry is working on the establishment of a research centre for nuclear science and technology attached to a nuclear reactor much bigger than the one in Da Lat. The move is to strengthen the nation's nuclear infrastructure, train human resources, and improve scientific and technological capacity to serve the acquisition and mastery of nuclear technology to be able to partially localise the nuclear reactor. At the same time, it will step up the research and development of products and services to effectively exploit the new reactor, while ensuring the safe operation and effective use of the Dalat Nuclear Reactor until 2033. Another task assigned to the ministry is amending the 2008 Atomic Energy Law, according to the official. Since the Law on Atomic Energy took effect in 2009, Vietnam has taken active steps to raise public awareness about the role played by atomic energy during national socioeconomic development, as well as the importance of the nuclear power programme in ensuring national energy security. This is the first time Vietnam has issued a specific law adjusting social relations on atomic energy, especially on nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants. It is a must for Vietnam to adjust and supplement a number of points stipulated in the Atomic Energy Law that are no longer suitable for the current situation and the coming new era./.