In 2014, the Governments of Vietnam and the United States signed cooperation agreement on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes (Agreement 123). Thereby, it creates the legal framework for the relevant bodies of the two sides to carry out specific cooperation, including cooperation on personnel training and development of human resources in the field of atomic energy.

Signing Ceremony

Although Section 123 Agreement was formally signed a year ago, on May 6, 2014 in Hanoi, but according to the current laws of the United States, there must be at least 3 months of continuous sessions for Congressional Review before official approval. Thus, from August 2014 onwards, Section 123 Agreement takes effect. Accordingly, the two countries can carry out cooperation, sales of noncombatant nuclear, including the sales of nuclear reactors to Vietnam by the United States.

In terms of the relationship in nuclear power cooperation between the two countries, there had been a first step, which is collaboration between the Electric Power University of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN EPU) and the American multinational conglomerate General Electric (GE), in New York. The two partners had signed a cooperation pact in the field of research, training in atomic power. According to the pact, GE will support EVN EPU in accessing new technologies, organization of seminars, bringing nuclear experts to teach at EVN EPU and some training areas such as power systems, mechanical technology, etc. Both sides have identified strategic long-term cooperation and training towards higher qualification of nuclear workforce in Vietnam.

A broader cooperative program in atomic power has also been actively prepared. Recently, in Hanoi, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VAEI) and Westinghouse Electric Company of the United States signed a cooperation agreement in manpower training, supporting the development of nuclear power projects in Vietnam. This is the first steps, most specifically in the field of cooperation on nuclear energy cooperation and training of human resources between Vietnam and the United States. Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Tran Viet Thanh stressed that Vietnam have early prepared and deployed its nuclear power development program. Therefore, the training of highly qualified human resources is very important and is the key to successful deployment of nuclear power development program in Vietnam.

Currently Ministry of Science and Technology is developing a scheme of training human resources, legal staff and technical experts to serve the nuclear power development program. So, the signed agreement between Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute and Westinghouse Electric Company would establish an effective channel of training for experts in the field of nuclear energy, nuclear engineering of Vietnam in general, and specialists of Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute in particular.

Ms. Claire Pierangelo - Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, affirmed the importance of human resources training to operate the nuclear power plant, which will not only help Vietnam train highly-qualified human resources, but also create an opportunity for the two sides to promote cooperation in the field of advanced nuclear technology, and nuclear energy. The US Westinghouse Electric Company is one of the important partners of Vietnam in the field of nuclear power, especially in developing human resources. This Electronic Group has various field trips in Vietnam and has laid the foundation for first collaboration with Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute. In accordance with the newly signed agreement, Westinghouse Electric Company awarded the first four scholarships for staff of Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute to do research in the field of civil nuclear in the United States in 2015.

Do Trong Tan