Monday, September 23, 2024
Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) said the country aims to make its experience and facilities available to cooperate with countries interested in adopting nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
The 10MWt pool-type research reactor RA-3 began operation in 1967 and produces a variety of medical radioisotopes (Image: CNEA)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has designated the International Centre for Research Reactor-based Nuclear Research (ICERR) with the objective of providing Member States with “timely access to research reactor-based and relevant nuclear infrastructure to achieve capacity-building and research and development objectives.”
The IAEA facilitates bilateral agreements with accredited centres to make their research reactors and resources available to organisations and agencies in IAEA Member States for basic training, staff training and research projects.
There are currently eight international centers, two in the United States and others in Russia, Belgium, France, Romania, South Korea and Morocco.
CNEA President Germán Guido Lavalle said: “This is a unique opportunity to further deepen bilateral and multilateral international cooperation, since Argentina has great capabilities in both the design, construction and operation of experimental reactors, as well as a special role in training highly specialized personnel. A great deal of work is being done in this field, thanks to CNEA’s capabilities, as well as the support of the IAEA, and we are convinced that CNEA’s capabilities make it a strong candidate for ICERR.”
CNEA adviser Osvaldo Calzetta Larrieu said: “The facilities we have defined that they will have access to are RA-3, RA-6 (the 0.5 MWt open pool multipurpose research reactor) and, once operational, RA-10. Also, the Argentine Neutron Beam Laboratory (LAHN) and other laboratories and engineering and security research capabilities.”
The ICERR application was made at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna. Argentina is currently building the RA-10 Multipurpose Reactor, a 30MWt open pool reactor. A progress-focused session at the General Conference stated that the aim is to start commissioning in 2026 and to be fully operational in 2027.
