A leading US technology group is studying the installation and operation of highly reliable power generation centers in Vietnam based on small-scale nuclear reactors.
Within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Vietnam and the US are strongly advancing cooperation programs in science and technology, with next-generation nuclear energy seen as a critical link.
Removing barriers to core technologies is considered essential not only for ensuring energy security but also for enabling Vietnam to move deeper into the global technology supply chain.
Small-scale nuclear power: The “key” to high-tech zones
Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), speaks at the opening of the forum on May 8. Photo: Du Lam
To achieve its target of double-digit economic growth from 2026, Vietnam has identified energy as a sector that must move ahead of others. Under Decision No. 21 issued by the Prime Minister on April 30, advanced energy has been designated as one of the country’s top-priority strategic technologies.
Speaking at the Vietnam-US Innovation Forum on “Developing Advanced Energy for Strategic Technology Industries” held on May 8, Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), stressed: “As strategic technology industries become increasingly dependent on large-scale, stable and sustainable energy infrastructure, developing advanced energy solutions is critically important to the long-term competitiveness of the economy.”
To address this challenge, NIC has partnered with EXCEL Services, one of the leading US nuclear engineering consulting firms. The cooperation focuses on researching the deployment of ultra-reliable power production centers in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City to support demanding sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and aviation.
Dan Ludwig, Vice President of EXCEL Services, said: “Vietnam needs an extremely stable energy supply to maintain the global supply chain for IT and AI components, systems and services. Notably, Boeing also depends on these high-tech zones to manufacture highly specialized components.”
The proposed technical solution involves using small modular and micro nuclear reactors (SMRs) integrated with smart microgrids. This onsite power generation model would not only secure localized electricity demand but also reduce pressure on investment in the national transmission network.
“Our mission is not to compete with EVN or PVN. Developing onsite power generation will help reduce the financial burden on EVN in making large-scale investments in nationwide transmission and distribution systems,” Ludwig added.
Building trust and a roadmap for core technology transfer
According to Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, Vietnam must build strategic trust with partners in order to remove barriers to advanced technology exports. Photo: Du Lam
Energy cooperation between Vietnam and the US goes beyond equipment procurement. It is also a strategy to build trust and gain access to advanced technologies that remain tightly restricted.
Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023, the strongest emphasis between the two countries is no longer conventional trade and economics, but science and technology cooperation.
According to Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, Vietnam must establish strategic trust with its partners in order to remove barriers related to advanced technology exports, including US D1-D3 regulations.
He explained: “Competition in technology and energy among major powers creates opportunities, but it also requires us to build trust with our partners. To achieve technology transfer, human resource training must be part of the process. Training itself is a form of technology transfer.”
The ambassador also outlined a possible pathway for Vietnam to acquire core technologies from the US through joint ventures.
“If there are no joint ventures or collaborative projects with them, it will be difficult for them to transfer technologies to us,” he said.
He predicted that future foreign direct investment flows into Vietnam would be of higher quality and increasingly concentrated in science and technology, as well as energy stability - areas now considered strategic national priorities.
According to Vinh, companies such as EXCEL Services could play multiple roles in this process. Beyond technical consulting, US partners could help Vietnam connect with international expert networks specializing in policy governance and workforce training for advanced energy operations.
This would enable Vietnam not only to acquire machinery and infrastructure, but also to independently operate and manage next-generation energy facilities safely and securely.
Looking further ahead, such energy cooperation could eventually expand across the region. Within ASEAN initiatives, the interconnection of Southeast Asia’s power transmission systems remains a major priority. Advanced energy solutions and US technological support could become a critical foundation helping Vietnam secure domestic energy stability while emerging as a regional energy and technology hub.
Vietnamnet.vn
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