As Vietnam moves forward with its first nuclear power plant construction, six major South Korean companies, including Samsung C&T and Hyundai Engineering, are discussing collaboration. PetroVietnam, the state-owned energy company, is exploring the potential for local companies to participate in the project by leveraging South Korea's nuclear construction and operational expertise.
According to local media reports on November 2, PetroVietnam sent a delegation to South Korea from October 27 to 29 to discuss cooperation with domestic nuclear-related firms and institutions during the 'NES 2026 International Energy and Nuclear Safety Conference and Exhibition.' The delegation was led by Pham Tuan Anh, a member of the board.
During the visit, the PetroVietnam delegation met with six South Korean companies, including Samsung C&T, Hyundai Engineering, Doosan Enerbility, Daewoo Engineering & Construction, GS Engineering & Construction, and DL E&C, to explore collaboration opportunities in the nuclear power sector. Key discussion points included each company's technological capabilities, project management experience, and methods for collaborating with local partners on international projects.
Both sides specifically examined the roles that Vietnamese companies could play in the nuclear construction process and reviewed the necessary workforce, technical procedures, and quality assurance systems for participation. PetroVietnam is also seeking ways for its subsidiaries to engage in the supply chain of South Korean nuclear firms, leveraging their existing capabilities in machinery, manufacturing, construction, and technical services.
Collaboration on Workforce Development and Supply Chain Establishment
The delegation's visit also focused on securing specialized nuclear personnel and enhancing technical capabilities. They discussed expanding cooperation in education, research, and nuclear project management during meetings with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and the Korea International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS).
In discussions with KEPCO, the parties considered ways to broaden the scope of their existing memorandum of understanding (MOU). Specific topics included training for nuclear personnel, technical research, project management, operations, supply chain development, and increasing the localization ratio of future projects.
Efforts are also underway to promote inter-university collaboration for nuclear personnel training. PetroVietnam is negotiating with KINGS to expand graduate programs, offer scholarships, and run specialized training programs. Additionally, they are exploring ways to strengthen knowledge transfer and faculty-expert exchanges with the Vietnam Petroleum University (PVU) and Vietnam Petroleum College (PVCollege).
The delegation also visited Doosan Enerbility's nuclear component manufacturing facility in Changwon, South Korea, to observe production systems, machinery manufacturing capabilities, quality control methods, and the operational structure of the supply chain. They also toured the Saeul Nuclear Power Plant to review operational management, workforce allocation, and safety management systems. PetroVietnam focused on understanding the comprehensive experience of South Korea's nuclear equipment manufacturing, construction, and operation industries through these site visits.
This collaboration discussion follows a workshop held on March 31 in Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, focused on localizing the supply chain for Vietnam's nuclear project. Building on those discussions, PetroVietnam is working to enhance workforce training and technical research in the nuclear sector while boosting local companies' capabilities to participate in the supply chain.
Vietnam's first nuclear project, the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project, consists of two plants, Ninh Thuan 1 and 2, with planned capacities ranging from 2,000 to 3,200 MW, aiming for operation between 2031 and 2035.
PetroVietnam is pursuing technological cooperation and workforce acquisition with South Korean companies in preparation for the Ninh Thuan 2 project, focusing on establishing a foundation for local companies to meet the technical and quality standards of the nuclear industry.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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