Argentina’s two nuclear power units, Atucha-1 and Embalse, generated 7.3 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2004, an approximate 4.1% increase over the 7 TWh generated in 2003, provisional 2004 statistics show.
The Argentine Association of Nuclear Technology (AATN) reported on 26th January 2005 that Atucha-1 generated 2.7 TWh of electricity and Embalse generated 4.6 TWh of electricity in 2004 – and that their combined output gave nuclear an 8.6% share of Argentina’s gross power generation in 2004, while saving the country an estimated 4.5 million tonnes in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Fossil-fuelled generation represented a 55.9% share of the 2004 gross power generation and hydro a 35.5% share.
A significant development in May 2004 was the announcement by the Argentine government that, as part of its plan for the country’s future energy strategy, it would organise the completion of the unfinished Atucha-2 power unit project using public funds [see also News No. 167, 27th August 2004]. Construction of the 750-megawatt pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) began in 1981. But the project was suspended in 1994, with approximately 80% of the work completed.
The AATN told NucNet that the energy crisis that Argentina experienced in 2004 prompted the government to reconsider Atucha-2. Negotiations are underway with original project contractor Siemens of Germany and Framatome, a subsidiary of Siemens and Areva of France. Once started, the completion of Atucha-2 will take approximately 52 months and cost an estimated 500 million US dollars.
