| Work Detail |
Argentinas National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) announced a change of direction in the development of the CAREM project, the first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) designed in the country. According to CNEA President Germán Guido Lavalle, the CAREM reactor is not commercially viable and will not continue as a base model for a commercial version. This decision is part of a strategic review aligned with the new Argentine Nuclear Plan promoted by President Javier Milei, which seeks to design SMR reactors that are competitive in the global market.
According to a report published in Econojournal, the CAREM, a 32 MW demonstration reactor under construction since 2014 at the Atucha nuclear site, has a physical progress of 63.8%, mostly in civil works, but with significant delays in engineering aspects. Lavalle emphasized that, although the project allowed great technical learning, its current design does not meet the commercial standards expected to compete in the international market. “We are not going to sell 50 CAREMs; we know that it is not economically competitive,” said the official in a recent internal speech, cited by the media.
CNEA completed a technical review and seeks to redesign horizons
Recently, CNEA completed a Critical Design Review to identify areas for improvement in the engineering of CAREM. Among the notable advances, operating conditions of pressure and temperature were achieved that allowed testing of key systems, such as the positioning of the control rods. However, this progress is not sufficient to guarantee its commercial viability. According to Lavalle, it will be necessary to prioritize resources to solve deficiencies and explore more advanced technologies.
The project also involves Argentine companies such as IMPSA and CONUAR, which manufacture key reactor components, including the pressure vessel and steam generators. Despite these efforts, Lavalle indicated that a shift to other conceptual designs is being considered, such as molten salt or liquid sodium reactors, fourth-generation technologies with greater potential for global acceptance.
In this regard, the president of CNEA highlighted that CAREM has been essential for the development of knowledge and technical capacity in nuclear engineering in Argentina. “CAREM is where we are learning to make reactors,” said Lavalle, stressing that the challenge now is to evolve towards a modular design that is competitive and exportable. In addition, the institution confirmed the receipt of a preliminary document with proposals for new conceptual designs, prepared with a focus on local capabilities and market trends.
You may be interested in: A group of hackers allegedly posts information about the Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission
Source: Econojournal |
