During the recent visit of the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, to Argentina, a memorandum of nuclear cooperation was signed by the President of Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA – Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica), Dr Germán Guido Lavalle, and the Director of El Salvador’s Agency for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Programme (OIPEN – Organismo para la Implementación del Programa de Energía Nuclear), Daniel Alejandro Álvarez.
The agreement includes promoting the exchange of information, scientific and technical visits, expert missions and training opportunities. At the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in September, Alvarez set out El Salvador’s ambition to “diversify our energy matrix under three premises: less reliance on external resources, care for the environment and affordable energy.
In July, the Salvadoran Congress approved the Law for the Creation of the Organsation for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Programme in El Salvador» (OIPEN). The new entity is responsible for conducting necessary studies for the installation of nuclear power plants aimed at generating electricity, supporting industrial processes, and utilising by-products for medical and agricultural purposes.
OIPEN operates under the oversight of the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (CEL). It is empowered to formulate national plans and policies to introduce nuclear energy for both electricity and heat generation.
Also in July a Salvadoran delegation visited Argentina to learn first-hand about the national nuclear expertise including visits to CNEA facilities following which the two countries an Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
Following the signing of the memorandum of nuclear co-operation, Dr Lavalle said: “This is undoubtedly a great step in the development of nuclear energy for El Salvador, and at the CNEA we are proud to be able to accompany and assist in this important initial stage, which will undoubtedly bring concrete benefits for Salvadoran society.” He added: “Our long tradition forming human resources in the Latin American region, through our academic institutes, will be made available once again within the framework of an inter-institutional understanding, with great impact to generate local capacities and strengthen technology applications nuclear for peaceful purposes.”
Researched and written by Judith Perera
