The following are excerpts from a more lengthy article on energy policy changes to be introduced by the new government of Argentina. It is dated but interesting article. Hope that U308's Laguna Salada supply Argentinian uranium need.
New government set to introduce changes to energy sector
January 11 2016
Challenges for new administration
In November 2015 Argentina held presidential elections in which centre-right candidate Mauricio Macri was elected president. Macri assumed the presidency on December 10 2015 after 12 years of Peronist (centre-left) governance under Nestor Kirchner and subsequently Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, his wife.
Argentina is a net energy importer and the sector is subject to substantial subsidies. The new government will need to manage the energy deficit and reduce the impact of subsidies on the public budget. Macri was critical of the energy policies of the Kirchner administration and believes that the existing regulations are hindering Argentine economic development and must be amended.
Energy policy During his campaign, Macri emphasised that energy would be a key factor in the government's agenda and that a long-term state policy would be required to address the country's energy crisis.
Together with other opposition candidates,(1) he signed a statement of commitment(2) addressed to the Fernandez de Kirchner administration that included the following guidelines for a long-term policy to revitalise the energy sector:
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- Argentina's energy matrix must be diversified to foster nuclear and renewable energy and reduce the use of hydrocarbons.
- An act outlining a plan for the construction of nuclear power plants must be enacted.
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The statement of commitment was signed to develop a long-term policy which would become the cornerstone of the energy sector's future development.
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Increase of power offer and diversification of energy matrix
Nuclear energy will also play a key role in the diversification of the energy matrix. The new administration is expected to continue supporting the Argentine Nuclear Plan. Argentina has three nuclear reactors (managed by state-owned company Nucleoelctrica Argentina SA), which supplied 4.4% of electricity consumed in 2014. The planning and implementation of nuclear energy projects are handled by the National Atomic Energy Commission. The major projects to develop nuclear energy in Argentina include the following:
- The Embalse nuclear plant's operational life will be extended for another 25 years and its generation capacity will be increased by 7%.
- A prototype CAREM25 medium-power nuclear reactor(4) – a small, locally designed power reactor prototype with a 25 MW capacity – will be built. This will be the first nuclear power station entirely designed and built in Argentina and it promises to deliver improved electricity supply for remote parts of large urban centres and manufacturing centres with high energy consumption.
- A fourth nuclear plant will be built. Argentina and China have signed a cooperation agreement to build a new nuclear plant that features a light water reactor and enriched uranium. Argentina will be the architect-engineer of the project. The agreement requires that the parties use the maximum amount of local materials and services. This will be achieved through the transfer of technology to Argentine companies, including manufacturing components and fuel fabrication. The agreement also guarantees the supply of enriched uranium and fuel assemblies throughout the life of the plant. The estimated cost of the reactor is $7 billion. The parties are also considering establishing a joint strategic partnership to develop and build nuclear reactors in Latin America which would see Argentina become a technology platform, supplying countries with nuclear technology that incorporates Chinese goods and services.