On the morning of June 27, the National Assembly voted to pass the Law on Atomic Energy (amended) with 441/442 delegates in favor. The law takes effect from January 1, 2026.
The new Law stipulates the transition of special mechanisms and policies for investment and construction of nuclear power projects and research nuclear reactor projects issued before the effective date of this Law, which shall continue to be implemented until there is a document to abolish or replace it with another legal document or it shall be abolished in writing by a competent authority or person.
Nuclear power projects that have been decided on investment policy before the effective date of this law shall be implemented according to the national power development plan in cases where there is another plan at the same level, regional plan, provincial plan or planning with technical and specialized characteristics that have not been updated, adjusted, or supplemented.
Before voting to approve, Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy presented a report explaining, accepting and revising the draft Law on Atomic Energy (amended).
Regarding the State's policies in the field of nuclear energy, the Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment said that the contents of the policy have been accepted, revised, and assigned to the Government for detailed regulation.
These contents include regulations on support for training, human resource treatment, socialization, and strengthening international cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.
Regarding nuclear power plants, the draft law has reviewed and revised contents related to investment, construction, operation, and termination of operation of nuclear power plants.
At the same time, the draft also stipulates the supervision of safety and security throughout the life cycle of nuclear power plants, ensuring the consistency of the legal system, in accordance with international practices and guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The draft law stipulates the transition of special mechanisms and policies for investment and construction of nuclear power projects and research nuclear reactor projects issued before the effective date of this law and assigns the Government to issue legal documents to promptly adjust, resolve difficulties and problems and take measures to promote the progress of nuclear power projects under implementation.
According to Mr. Le Quang Huy, because radiation safety, nuclear safety and nuclear security are particularly important issues, the draft law stipulates the national radiation and nuclear safety agency to ensure compliance with the requirements of IAEA, international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, international practices and the context of Vietnam.
The draft law also stipulates a separate chapter on radiation safety, radiation protection, nuclear safety and nuclear security.
Including regulations on locations for storage, treatment, burial of radioactive waste, spent radioactive sources and spent nuclear fuels identified in national environmental protection planning, regional planning, provincial planning, development planning, nuclear energy application and other relevant planning.
