Vietnam will need approximately 2,400  professionals if projects to build two nuclear power plants in the southern province of Ninh Thuan are reactivated, with 1,200 staff required for each plant.

Overview of the meeting. Source: MoIT

Head of the Science and Technology Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Ly Quoc Hung revealed the figures at a conference on developing human resources for nuclear power on January 2.

At the end of November 2024, Vietnam's National Assembly approved the resumption of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power projects after an eight-year suspension. Originally planned in late 2009, the project consists of two nuclear power plants, Ninh Thuan 1 and 2, with a total capacity of 4,000 MW (2x2,000 MW).

Speaking at the conference, Hung noted that it takes about 600 to 1,200 people to operate a two-reactor nuclear power plant  (2,000 MW capacity), which requires approximately 600-1,200 personnel. This estimate is in line with the recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other nuclear energy organizations. Personnel for critical positions require 5-10 years of practical experience and specialized training.

Hung highlighted that each plant would require around 1,200 personnel to cover functions such as safety control and radioactive protection, project and plant management, reactor operations, maintenance, and technical support. If both Ninh Thuan plants (2x2,000 MW) are reactivated, a total workforce of 2,400 personnel will be needed.

The design of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant in 2016. File Photo

"Based on the experience of other countries with nuclear energy, Vietnam will need about 350 professionals with master's and doctoral degrees in nuclear law and R&D. These experts would ensure research, management, operation, and safety compliance of the plants," said Hung.

According to Hung, the workforce estimate does not include personnel for government management, research institutes, or teaching faculty. On average, one researcher is needed for every 12 workers in nuclear power, and one teacher for every 20 students. This would require an additional 250 personnel for these roles.

According to international norms, a one-reactor (1,000 MW) nuclear power plant requires 700-750 workers. For projects with 2-3 reactors, staffing needs range from 600 to 1,000 workers, distributed across safety, legal, and operational departments.

Despite these needs, Vietnam faces significant challenges in both the number and competence of its nuclear workforce. Most existing expertise is concentrated in the Ministry of Science and Technology, universities, research institutes, and Vietnam Electricity (EVN). There is also a shortage of faculty and outdated facilities for training and research in the field.

Back in 2010, during the planning phase of the Ninh Thuan project, the Prime Minister approved a training and development plan for nuclear energy personnel. The goal was to produce 2,400 engineers and 350  Masters and PhDs in nuclear power by 2020, with approximately 13% trained abroad. By 2017, before the project was suspended, 429 students and 31 EVN staff were sent to Russia for training, and 24 engineers were trained in Japan. However, most of these individuals have since shifted to other fields or moved abroad.

As the projects restart, human resource development is recognized as a critical success factor. Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien stressed the need to proactively develop scientific, technological, and engineering personnel for the project and the broader nuclear energy ecosystem.

"This is not just about one project, this is about building a future nuclear energy ecosystem and technology," said Dien.

He directed relevant agencies to complete plans by Q1 on training, specialization fields, and the size of the workforce for the nuclear energy program. These agencies were also tasked with advising the authorities on mechanisms to support educational institutions and workers involved in nuclear power projects.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade will work with the Ministry of Education and Training to establish standardized training programs for nuclear energy personnel," said Dien.