El Salvador mulls nuclear power option

El Salvador’s government aims to have its first nuclear research reactor in place in 2030 and to that end will train 400 specialists within seven years.

Daniel Alvarez, head of the country’s energy, hydrocarbons and mines department, provided the outlook during a discussion on perspectives of nuclear energy in Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by Latin America energy organization Olade and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The official highlighted President Nayib Bukele’s interest in looking at nuclear power to help with energy security, in particular, issues related to supply shortfalls stemming from droughts which have led to increased fossil fuel use.

He also commented on land availability restrictions for solar parks, which would favor the use of smaller, modular nuclear units.

“We are already preparing the nuclear security law. We’ve been moving forward by signing all the conventions and all the international agreements for the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” said Alvarez, who participated in IAEA’s 68th conference in September.

[insight#260217542]

In the region, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have operational nuclear power plants.

One organization promoting the use of the alternative source is the Nuclear Alternative Project which has been lobbying for the energy source’s introduction in Puerto Rico.

Read Economic Study - Advanced Reactors in Puerto Rico

More recently, Peru’s energy and mines minister Rómulo Mucho said nuclear technology represents the future of generation.

[insight#259774683]