Vietnam mobilizes international partnerships to fill nuclear workforce gap

Vietnam's push to establish itself as a nuclear energy producer hinges on assembling a substantial workforce, with authorities setting workforce targets that underscore the scale of the challenge ahead. Under Decision No. 1012/QD-TTg, the government has mandated training and development programs aimed at recruiting approximately 1,920 personnel for the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant by 2033, with a similar contingent of roughly 1,980 workers needed for the Ninh Thuan 2 facility by 2035.

The ambitious personnel requirements reflect the technical complexity and operational demands of modern nuclear facilities. To meet these targets, Vietnamese policymakers are actively engaging international partners to share expertise and accelerate skills development across engineering, operations, maintenance, and safety disciplines.

Vietnam's nuclear program has attracted attention from regional partners, with discussions ongoing regarding cooperation with the Republic of Korea on nuclear technology and workforce development. Beyond energy sector collaboration, Vietnamese officials are also pursuing broader international dialogue frameworks aimed at reducing nuclear risks and promoting responsible development of atomic power technologies.

The workforce initiative forms part of a wider strategy to diversify Vietnam's energy portfolio and reduce dependence on coal-fired generation. Success in meeting staffing targets will be critical to the timeline for bringing the two Ninh Thuan reactors into operation and establishing operational reliability once the plants become operational.