Tiếng Việt
From January 6 to 8, 2025, a delegation of Vietnamese experts worked at the Department of Standards and Metrology (DOSM), Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), Laos P.D.R under the Technical Cooperation Project on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) between Laos P.D.R and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), project code LAO1002.
The delegation consisted of Mr. Vu Tien Ha, former Director of the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute; Mr. Nguyen Le Son, former Deputy Director of the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation; and Mr. Nguyen The Man, Deputy Director of the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation. These experts participated as IAEA experts. The purpose of this mission was to organize a national workshop on NDT techniques and support services for the application of atomic energy in Laos P.D.R.
From January 6 to 8, 2025, a delegation of Vietnamese experts worked at the Department of Standards and Metrology (DOSM), Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), Laos P.D.R under the Technical Cooperation Project on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) between Laos P.D.R and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), project code LAO1002.
The delegation consisted of Mr. Vu Tien Ha, former Director of the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute; Mr. Nguyen Le Son, former Deputy Director of the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation; and Mr. Nguyen The Man, Deputy Director of the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation. These experts participated as IAEA experts. The purpose of this mission was to organize a national workshop on NDT techniques and support services for the application of atomic energy in Laos P.D.R.
The delegation met and discussed with Mr. Phouangmala Choumphachan, Deputy Director General of DOSM, and Mr. Om Keoboutda, Director of the NDT Center for Laos P.D.R (The center was established in 2020 under DOSM). Within the framework of Vietnam-Laos technical cooperation through the protocol concluded in 2021, the triangular Vietnam-IAEA-Laos technical cooperation project and the IAEA technical cooperation project for NDT starting in 2022, along with participation of Laos in IAEA’s Asia-Pacific regional cooperation projects (RCA), the professional capacity of the NDT Center for Laos P.D.R’s staff and technicians has been gradually improved through training courses, specialized workshops, and scientific visits. Additionally, basic equipment has been provided to facilitate NDT activities and services. The discussion highlighted the need to find solutions to promote the application and implementation of NDT techniques. Mr. Phouangmala Choumphachan expressed gratitude to the IAEA, the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute for their support in developing the NDT sector in Lao PDR.
On the morning of January 7, 2025, at the MOIC conference hall, Ms. Chanhsouk Seangphachanh, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Industry and Commerce, delivered the opening speech at the workshop on NDT services and technical support for atomic energy applications. She emphasized the importance of NDT, including: (1) Ensuring safety, (2) Ensuring quality, (3) Reducing costs, (4) Saving time, and (5) Prolonging service life while complying with regional and international standards. However, as this is a new field in Lao P.D.R, many stakeholders are not yet fully aware of the nature of NDT. Therefore, the presence of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency at the workshop was seen as an excellent opportunity to introduce and highlight the importance of this field to stakeholders.
The workshop was attended by 50 delegates from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Department of Standards and Metrology, government agencies, and private enterprises in the civil and industrial construction sectors.
The workshop program included four presentations delivered by Mr. Om Keoboutda, Director of the NDT Center for Laos P.D.R, and the three Vietnamese experts. Mr. Om Keoboutda introduced the NDT Center for Laos P.D.R, detailing its staff, equipment, deployable techniques, and initial NDT technical service activities. Mr. Vu Tien Ha presented the economic and social impact of NDT activities within the framework of Asia-Pacific regional cooperation projects, with data summarized by the IAEA from 2000 to 2020. He emphasized the importance of radiation safety and industrial and civil construction safety through quality control, with NDT serving as an effective tool. He proposed solutions to enhance NDT applications in Lao PDR, including expanding international cooperation, establishing NDT study and research programs in collaboration with the National University of Laos, promoting NDT services, and conducting a SWOT analysis (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) to determine the best strategies.
A notable side event of the workshop was a demonstration of advanced NDT techniques (Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing – PAUT) conducted by Mr. Nguyen Duy Lan, Director of L.C.D. Science and Technology Consulting and Services Co., Ltd.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Soukahlom Sothiphon, Deputy Director General of DOSM, delivered the closing speech, thanking the participants from government agencies and private enterprises for their attendance and appreciating the experts for sharing their valuable knowledge and experience in the NDT field.
During the mission, the DOSM staffs and the Vietnamese expert delegation also visited and conducted technical discussions at an industrial facility applying NDT for maitainment process and applying radiation technology for monitoring in production line – the Laos Brewery Company. Mr. Sithixay Ketthavong, Sustainable Development Director of the company, welcomed the delegation and expressed the hope that Laos’s organizations and companies would implement NDT techniques for civil and industrial projects, with the Laos Brewery Company being ready to utilize such services.
The mission report highlights the following key outcomes achieved by the three Vietnamese experts together with DOSM staffs:
- – Enhanced awareness and interest in promoting NDT applications in Lao PDR.
- – Increased understanding among participants of quality assurance and control processes in the civil and industrial construction sectors.
- – Introduction to NDT applications in industrial sectors.
- – Discussion on quality assurance and control in NDT implementation.
- – Presentation on planning maintenance programs for hydropower plants and thermal power plants utilizing NDT techniques.
- – Introduction to NDT techniques for dam safety analysis, non-metallic concrete assessment, and heritage conservation in construction.
- – Explanation of the ISO 9712 certification program for NDT personnel.
- – Demonstration of key NDT equipment.
- – Particularly, the workshop significantly raised awareness and promoted the application of NDT techniques in Lao PDR.
January 2025, Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation
