The Argentine president, Javier Milei, announced the creation of an ‘Argentine Nuclear Plan’, with technology from the South American country and the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in order to supply the development of artificial intelligence (AI) , which demands more and more energy.
“After decades of decline, nuclear energy will have its triumphant return and we are not only going to not be left behind, but we intend to be pioneers,” said Milei in a recorded speech, surrounded by his chief of advisors and who is responsible of the new Argentine nuclear plan, Demian Reidel, and the Director General of the IAEA, the Argentine Rafael Grossi.
Reidel explained that it is an “ambitious plan that marks the rebirth of nuclear energy as the cornerstone of the Argentine and global energy future,” because “in a global context in which AI and technological advances demand more and more energy , nuclear energy once again takes its rightful place. It is a clean, secure and, most importantly, scalable source.”
Milei’s advisor assured that Argentina “is prepared to lead this energy evolution” and that “it will do so with 100% Argentine technology”, developed by nuclear engineers from the South American country, “who are recognized among the best in the world”, so He stated that this project “is a national pride.”
Argentina already has three nuclear power plants, Atucha I, Atucha II and Embalse.
The Milei Government will create the Argentine Nuclear Council, chaired by Reidel and made up of the Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos; the Minister of Defense, Luis Petri; and the president of the National Atomic Energy Commission, Germán Guido Lavalle.
In a first stage, a small modular reactor (SMR) – an Argentine invention that offers flexibility, lower initial costs and the possibility of being installed in various locations – will be built on the Atucha Nuclear Power Plant site.
In a second stage, Argentina’s uranium reserves will be developed, which will serve to cover domestic demand and is expected to position the country as an exporter of fuel elements with high added value.
The Argentine nuclear plan has the support of the IAEA, and Grossi described that internationally we are “witnessing a very clear return to the use of nuclear energy as a source of clean, dispatchable, reliable energy, at a time when observes a growing need for energy and problems of a geostrategic nature.”
With this plan, Argentina seeks to position itself as a “global leader in the peaceful use of atomic energy, while moving towards its goal of becoming an AI hub,” Reidel said.
The Milei Government is interested in AI being developed in Argentine territory, taking advantage of the large areas of land and the cold climate of Patagonia, but this Friday the Argentine president recognized that “the development potential in AI is so immense that with the “Conventional energy is not going to be enough to supply this new demand.”
With information from EFE.
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