The overall objective of the Strategy is to develop and apply atomic energy, ensuring safety and security, effectively serving socio-economic development goals, improving people’s quality of life, protecting the environment and national energy security, and contributing to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To put nuclear power plants into operation in a safe and effective manner, contributing to ensuring energy security to serve digital transformation and green transformation; to complete a number of basic tasks in the nuclear power development program. To expand the application of radiation and radioactive isotopes in economic and technical sectors. To perfect institutions, enhance state management capacity, strengthen nuclear science and technology potential, gradually master strategic technologies, develop human resources to meet the requirements of development and application of atomic energy, ensuring safety and security.

Regarding nuclear power development, the Strategy strives that by 2035, the two nuclear power plants - Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 - will complete construction and be put into safe operation; it also aims for the participation of domestic enterprises to reach 30% of the total investment value in construction and installation of auxiliary components of nuclear power projects; and to implement at least one nuclear power plant project using small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

To complete the development of nuclear power infrastructure, to finalize the orientation for subsequent nuclear power projects in a safe, sustainable, and efficient manner, contributing to ensuring national energy security and achieving the net-zero emissions target.

With a vision to 2050, atomic energy will become an economic - technical sector, making an important contribution to energy security, the green economy, and the country’s sustainable development.

The share of nuclear power is expected to account for approximately 6-8% of the total national electricity output, with the addition of around four large-capacity nuclear reactors and 10-15 small modular reactors; consideration will be given to increasing the share of nuclear power and balancing the number of large-capacity reactors and small modular reactors when economic and technical conditions are favorable, in line with optimal power system planning.

To basically master nuclear technology, and to develop several leading corporations and enterprises with capabilities in construction and installation, design, manufacturing, and production of materials and equipment for nuclear power.

To master advanced radiation and nuclear technologies in healthcare, industry, agriculture, natural resources, and environmental sectors, thereby effectively contributing to socio-economic development. To put into operation a large-scale accelerator center.

Vietnam’s nuclear science and technology capacity and level are to be developed to reach the average level of developed countries, with modern technical infrastructure and high-quality human resources, ensuring a foundation for the development and application of radiation, radioactive isotopes, and nuclear power; and to become a regional center for nuclear training, research, and application in Southeast Asia.

According to the Strategy, the orientation for nuclear power development is to formulate and implement a nuclear power development program with flexible scales and an appropriate roadmap, harmoniously combining large-capacity nuclear power plants and small modular nuclear power plants. The program will be concretized into mechanisms, policies, plans, projects, and schemes, ensuring consistency and coherence.

In addition, to master advanced nuclear techniques and radiation technologies in construction quality management and product quality control. At the same time, to develop, produce, and apply certain radiopharmaceuticals and isotopes for diagnosis and treatment.

Translator: Vân Ly