(VOVworld) - Russia and Vietnam will jointly build an atomic energy research center with a 500-million-USD preferential loan from the Russian government. The construction of Vietnam’s core nuclear center was revealed by Vyacheslav Pershukov, Deputy Director General of the Russia State Nuclear Energy Corporation (Rosatom), on Tuesday in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The De Lat nuclear reactor (Photo: Da Lat Center for Nuclear Research/ VNA)

At a meeting marking 30 years since the resumption of the Da Lat reactor and 60 years of Vietnam’s atomic energy sector, Pershukov said: “The center will need up to 500 employees. The inauguration is expected in 2020. We will provide personnel training for the center’s operation.”

Pershukov briefed reporters on Vietnam-Russia cooperation in atomic energy. Russia has consulted, projected, and conducted feasibility studies for Vietnam’s first nuclear plant in the south central province of Ninh Thuan. Russia assisted Vietnam in personnel training for the plant’s construction and operation.

The same day, Da Lat city hosted a Vietnam-Russia friendship meeting. Rosatom took this occasion to present certificates to 6 Vietnamese scientists for their contributions to the modernization and development of nuclear energy research. Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology awarded insignias to 13 senior Russian experts who helped Vietnam restore the Da Lat reactor.