The Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom (managed by TVEL,
JSC) has fulfilled a contract for nuclear fuel delivery to the reactor of
Nuclear Research Institute in Dalat (Vietnam). The fuel assemblies were
manufactured at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, an enterprise of
Rosatom’s Nuclear fuel division in Siberia. This batch of nuclear fuel will
provide reliable reactor operation through the 2030s.
The Soviet-redesigned reactor has been operating on-site since 1984. It was installed instead of the American-designed TRIGA Mark-2 research reactor that first went into service in 1963 but was shut down during active combat operations in Vietnam. Over its 40 years of operation, the Dalat nuclear reactor has safely operated more than 70,000 hours. The facility is applied for producing radioisotopes, neutron activation analysis, scientific research, as well as training and professional development. Today the Institute supplies over 15,000 Curies (non-SI unit of radiation measurement) of various radioactive drugs weekly to 23 hospitals across the country, ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment for approximately 500,000 patients annually. Additionally, the Institute successfully applies nuclear and isotope technologies in areas such as agriculture, geology, oil and gas, archaeology, transportation, irrigation, and environmental protection.
Nuclear fuel supply of the Dalat research reactor is a part of the Russia-Vietnam Interdepartmental Roadmap for Developing Nuclear Technologies up to 2030, signed in May 2025 by Rosatom’s CEO Aleksey Likhachev and Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam. The document also covers issues related to building a center for nuclear science and technology, and participation of the Vietnamese side in the International Center for Research based on MBIR reactor consortium, as well as personnel training for Vietnam's nuclear industry. Cooperation in nuclear energy is also expanding towards constructing of large-scale nuclear power plants. In September, 2025, Rosatom Energy International and Vietnam’s Power Engineering 2 (PECC2) signed a memorandum of understanding. The document lays a foundation for the cooperation of the parties within the Ninh Thuận 1 NPP project in Vietnam. It aims to update technical-economic justification and site dossier, as well as deepen cooperation in infrastructure development and staff training. The solution proposed by Rosatom involves a two-unit NPP with generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors — its flagship product combining proven reliability with modern safety systems.
The previous fuel supply from Russia for this facility
took place in December 2010 (unlike nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel for
research reactors is delivered irregularly and for long periods at once).
Nuclear Fuel Division of Rosatom State Corporation (managed by TVEL JSC) includes enterprises engaged in fabrication of nuclear fuel, uranium conversion and enrichment, manufacturing of gas centrifuges, as well as R&D and design institutions. Being the sole supplier of nuclear fuel for Russian NPPs, TVEL provides fuel for more than 70 power reactors in 15 countries worldwide, research reactors in nine countries, as well as propulsion reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet. One out of every six power reactors globally operates on TVEL fuel. The Fuel Division is the world's largest producer of enriched uranium and stable isotopes. TVEL is also focused on development of new businesses in chemistry, metallurgy, energy storage, 3D printing, digital solutions and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. www.tvel.ru
