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ARGENTINA

(Updated 2011)

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Argentine Republic is a federal state constituted by 23 provinces: Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Formosa, Chaco, Catamarca, La Rioja, Santiago del Estero, Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, San Juan, Mendoza, San Luis, Córdoba, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Buenos Aires, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, the Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands. It is also constituted by the City of Buenos Aires. The provincial political division of the country is presented as follows, in Figure 1.1:

Figure 1.1: Political Division of Argentina

Each of the 23 Argentine provinces is also divided into administrative areas or departments.

SOURCE: UNDERSECRETARYSHIP OF TERRITORIAL PLANNING OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT: http://www.planif-territorial.gov.ar/

1.1 Country Overview

1.1.1 Governmental System

Argentina adopts a Representative, Republican and Federal system of government.

Representative: the representatives are elected by the people and are the ones who govern the country.

Republican: the representatives are elected by the people through the ballot system. The government is divided into three powers: Executive, Legislative and Judicial, following a written Constitution. The country is based on a system of decentralization of power.

Federal: the Provincial States preserve their autonomy in spite of being reunited by a common government (National Government).

Argentina is based on a Democratic and Presidential system of government. The National Constitution was enacted in 1853 and amended in 1860, 1898, 1957 and 1994. The suffrage is universal and obligatory for every citizen as from the age of 18.

Each province, as well as the City of Buenos Aires, elect their legislators and governors by direct ballot. Moreover, provincial states organise and have their own Justice administration.

The City of Buenos Aires is the first financial, political and economic centre of Argentina.

SOURCE: Presidency of the Argentine Republic.

http://www.casarosada.gov.ar/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=42 http://www.casarosada.gov.ar

1.1.2 Geography and Climate

The Argentine Republic is located in the southern and western hemispheres with reference to the Equator and the Greenwich meridian, respectively.

Argentina limits with Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, the Southern Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Chile to the west and south.

The province of Tierra del Fuego, the Antarctica and the South Sandwich Islands engulf a continental area in the American continent, another in the Antarctica and the Falkland Islands and South Georgias. These isles have been occupied by Great Britain since 1882. Argentina also claims the overseas territory of the Antarctica.

The total area is 3,761,274 km2.

By only taking into account the continental territory in South America, which entails the Bolivian frontier (at a latitude of 21º South) and the southern extreme of Tierra del Fuego (at a latitude of 55ºS), the North-South longitude of Argentina is 3,799 km, its highest width is 1,423 km and its surface area is 2,791,810 km2. Argentina is the second largest country of South America. Its borders with other countries are 9,376 km long and its coastal line in the South Atlantic Ocean (including the islands) is 4,725 km long.

The continental area is 969,464 km2.

The vast Argentine territory has a diversity of landscapes, counting with high peaks, mountains, mountain ranges and prairies. To the west, Argentina has the rugged mountain regions, known as the Andes. Towards the east, it is completely plain or slightly undulated. The Argentinean pampas, originally treeless plains including the most productive agricultural sectors, stretches 1,600 km to the south of Chaco province (northern forests) and to the north of the Patagonia. The Patagonia, southern region of Argentina, has almost 1 million sq km and is mostly arid with desolate steppes.

SOURCE: National Institute of Statistics and Census: http://www.indec.gov.ar ;

Geographic Institute of the Argentine Republic: http://www.ign.gob.ar/ ;

Navy Hydrographical Service: http://www.hidro.gov.ar

In Argentina, climate is divided into four well defined seasons: autumn, winter, spring and summer, each lasting three months. In the southern hemisphere, the winter begins on June 21st and the summer on December 21st.

There are four major kinds of climate in Argentina: warm, mild, arid and cold. The extension of the territory and the features of its landscape determine the existence of varieties in each of the mentioned types. In Figure 1.2, the distribution of the types of climate in Argentina is shown.

Figure 1.2: Types of climate in Argentina.

Temperatures decrease generally from the north to the south as a consequence of the difference of latitude. To the north, the weather is tropical while to the south it is cold and has similar characteristics to the north of Europe.

Also, temperatures decrease from the east to the west, due to the high altitudes of the Andes, which are in the western part of the country and because of the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Moderate temperature conditions prevail in most parts of Argentina, with the exception of a small tropical area in the northeast and the subtropical Chaco region in the north, as well as the coldest areas in the south of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and South Atlantic Islands.

In the surroundings areas of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires the annual average temperature is 16.1 ° C.

In the north, near the Tropic of Capricorn, the highest temperatures prevail compared to the rest of the country. In this region the annual mean temperature is 23.3 ° C, reaching maximum values of 45 °C.

The climate is generally cold in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. In the western region of Patagonia, which belongs to the Patagonian Andes, the winter average temperature is close to 0 °C. In most coastal areas, however, the ocean has a moderate influence on temperatures. The figure 1.3 shows the annual average maximum and minimum temperatures.

FIGURE 1.3: Average, Maximum and Minimum, annual Temperatures.

In Argentina the precipitation has large variations. In the north of the country, it falls over 152 cm per year of rainwater, while around the City of Buenos Aires the annual rainfall is approximately 102 cm. The south and west regions are semiarid. Figure 1.4 shows the distribution for the four seasons.

Figure 1.4: Seasonal Average Rainfall.

The Argentine Wind Regimes is characterised by two anticyclone centres situated around parallel 30° S, one in the Pacific Ocean and another one in the Atlantic. In the winter season, both centres move away towards the north and are joined on the continental area. In summer, they move away towards the south, separating and creating a cyclonic centre above Argentina.

From the Atlantic Ocean, constant winds blow from the NE, loaded with humidity, which affects the centre and northern part of the country. Its humidity decreases in the interior part of the country. Thus, the rainfall pattern decreases from the East to the West in the northern region, except in the mountain areas. These winds are predominant in summer.

The cold winds of the West, coming from the Pacific Ocean, affect the southern part of the country; since the Andes do not hamper their circulation as the Andean peaks are shorter. When these winds meet those of the Atlantic Ocean, an occluded front is created which is normally directed towards the southern part of the province of Buenos Aires, advancing or retreating in accordance with the prevailing mass of air (cold in the south, warm in the north). Rainfall prevails in winter and decreases in the south from the west to the east.

Different meteorological factors affect Argentina, some of which are local and others come from other countries. This is the case of warm and humid/wet winds coming from the Atlantic anticyclone which affect the regions above the north of Patagonia or the winds from the West coming from the Pacific Ocean anticyclone and also the Antarctica anticyclone cold winds. These three winds affect the Argentine climate in a permanent way contrary to the local winds, which are as follows: Zonda, Pampero and Southeast. In Figure 1.5 the predominant direction of local winds is shown.

Figure 1.5: Local Winds in Argentina

Local winds are characterised by:

Tornados consist of a mass of air with the shape of a condensation funnel which moves in circles and has a rotary movement of about 150 km/h. They are originated between October and March in the basin of El Plata.

Besides, there are frequent snowfalls in the Andes and also frost (though they just coincide with the advance of cold winds of the South Pacific or in high mountain areas and Patagonic Plateau) and hail which falls between October and March in the basin of El Plata.

SOURCE: National Meteorological Centre: http://www.smn.gov.ar

1.1.3 Population

The last census in Argentina was conducted in 2010. According to the provisional data resulting from this Census, Argentina has a total population of 36,260,130 and an average density of 14.4 inhabitants per km2. The average annual rate of total population growth is 10.6o/oo. Life expectancy is 75.2 years. Gross birth rate is 17.5o/oo and gross infant mortality rate is 7.8o/oo. In Figure 1.6 the size and rhythm of population growth between the years 1970 and 2010, both urban and rural, is presented; while in Figure 1.7, the population distribution in Argentina can be observed by age groups, literacy level and urban and rural proportions, for the year 2001, the data corresponding to the 2011 census is currently not available.

Figure 1.6: Total and Growth rate of the Population

Figure 1.7: Population Distribution

The City of Buenos Aires, along with 19 administrative areas conforming what is known as Gran Buenos Aires, is one of the biggest cities worldwide. According to the provisional data of the 2011 census, the following results can be observed: over one third of the total population lives in Gran Buenos Aires, which has an approximate population of 12,801,364, of which 2,891,082 live in the City of Buenos Aires.

Other major cities are as follows: Córdoba (1,330,023 inhabitants), Rosario (1,198,528 inhabitants), Mendoza (1,086,066 inhabitants), San Miguel de Tucumán (623,387 inhabitants) and Mar del Plata (614,350).

Around 91% of the total population lives in urban areas. The following table presents historical data about the Argentine population:

TABLE 1. INFORMATION ON POPULATION




 Annual average rate of growth (%)
Year1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2008 2010* From 2000 to 2010
Population (millions) 24.0 28.1 32.6 36.8 38.6 39.1 40.0 0.8
Population density (inhabitants/km²) 8.6 10.1 11.7 13.2 13.8 14.0 14.4 0.9
Urban population as part of the total % 78.9 82.9 87.2 89.2 90.1 90.3 91.0 0.2
Continental surface (1000 km²)           2791.8

*Provisional data of the 2011 National Census.

SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS AND CENSUS http://www.indec.gov.ar;

UNDERSECRETARIAT OF TERRITORIAL PLANNING OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT. http://www.planif-territorial.gov.ar

1.1.4 Economic data

At present, the most important Sectors regarding the contribution to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), according to the 2010 registry, are: Services (coming from the last decade), Industry, Agriculture (including livestock farming), Construction, Energy and, lastly, Mining (with little activity in Argentina).

The Energy Sector decreased its participation with the passing of time. The main reason is that energy exports, mainly hydrocarbons, are expected to decrease in the future, being able to be replaced with imports, mainly with oil and natural gas.

First and foremost The Agricultural Sector consists of soy crops and its derivatives: soybean oil, flour and soybeans with over 50% of participation. All these products are demanded worldwide.

The Services Sector is the biggest sector in the Argentine economy and it is expected to continue as the dominant sector in the future.

In the year 2008, the Construction Sector increased its GDP, and is expected to continue growing, with the same tendency as the Mining Subsector.

In spite of the worldwide economic deceleration, it is expected that the country keeps on supplying the agro industrial goods. The domestic economy might engage protectionist measures against economic events that may take place in main countries.

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

  Annual Average Rate of Growth (%)
  1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2008 2010 2000 to 2010
GDP (millions of current US$) 28,178 190,661 123,274 284,204 181,967 328,028 368,3996.3
GDP (millions of constant US$ 2000) 51,564 136,915 193,284 284,463 290,822 394,594 442,0786
GDP per capita (PPP* U$S /capita) n/d 4,861 5,609 9,210 10,871 14,408 15,6035.2
GDP per capita (U$S/current capita) 1,176 6,787 3,828 7,929 4,629 8,046 9,1895.3

SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS AND CENSUS http://www.indec.gov.ar;

PABLO MIRA LLAMBI - INFORMATION AND ECONOMIC SITUATION. UNDERSECRETARIAT OF ECONOMIC PLANNING. MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND PRODUCTION. pmiral@mecon.gov.ar

1.2 Energy Information

1.2.1 Estimated Available Energy

Argentina has traditionally been one of the self-sufficient countries of the region, as regards energy. Even though it counts with natural resources, like oil, natural gas, carbon and uranium, it cannot be considered as oil and gas supplier country, as it happened during the ‘90s, but it could be a self-sufficient country and even count with exportable surplus. During the last years, all the aforementioned have suffered some severe changes. Argentina has brought its hydroelectric development and especially the nuclear, to a standstill in spite of counting with a bigger hydroelectric potential than the installed potential, and to a wide nuclear development capacity in every stage of the fuel cycle.

Also, reserves of fossil resources decreased considerably due to a lack of investment in registered prospecting and unplanned prospecting, mainly intended to attend the high growth in domestic demand and the regional market.

Since 2004, the National State has implemented a policy of a rational use of resources in a planned way by doing a careful use so that the activity is sustainable in the future.

According to the last available National Energetic Balance corresponding to 2009, approximately 88.1% of the total primary energy offer comes from fossil fuels, corresponding to 51.6% of natural gas, 35% of oil and 1.5% of mineral coal. The rest comes from hydraulic energy (4.7%), nuclear energy (2.8%), wood (0.8%) and bagasse (1.3%) and other primary resources (0.8%). This high concentration of primary energy sources of Argentina’s energetic net in hydrocarbons is a main structural characteristic. In the Figure 1.8, the evolution of the composition of primary energy sources information coming from the National Energetic Balances is shown.

Figure 1.8: Composition of primary energetic sources 1970-2009.

Concerning the analysis of the National Energetic Balances for the period 1970-2007, significant changes can be observed related to the continuous replacement of oil with natural gas. Thus, in 1970, 71.5% of energy came from oil and 17.6% from natural gas; in 1980, proportions were respectively 62.7% and 25%. In 1990, values reached 48% and 37.9% to reach the above mentioned value in 2009.

Other remarkable changes are related to the evolution of water/hydroelectric power and nuclear energy. In 1970, hydro power was only 0.6% of the energy sources and no nuclear energy records were registered that year. While in 1980, energy records were of 3.8% and 2% respectively, in 1980 values were of 4% and 4.6%. In 2009, the rates were those aforementioned. In Table 3 the total of energy resources in Argentina is shown

TABLE 3. ESTIMATE AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Available Estimated Sources of Energy
Fossil Fuels Nuclear Renewable
Solid Liquid Gas Uranium HydraulicOther renewable
Total amount in specific units* 477 399,296 378,820 17,271 40,4002,055
Total amount in Exajoule (EJ) 10.81 14.80 13.32 10.94 0.610.02

*Solid, liquid: Millons of tons; gas: millons of m3; uranium; metric tons of metallic U; hydro water and other renewable: TW.

For the coal reservoirs, the measured reserves of the Adaro Exploitation Plan were taken into account.

In the case of oil and gas, reserves of the country were taken into account.

In the case of uranium, reasonably ensured sources are taken into account along with those inferred measured as metallic uranium, corresponding to the regions of Sierra Pintada, Cerro Solo and small deposits.

In the case of hydroelectrical power, the gross theoretical potential technically exploitable is 169000 GWh/year, considering a load factor of 0.477.

Regarding renewable energy, the potential of geothermic sources, as well as wind and solar, are estimated considering a load factor of 0.3.

In the case of eolic energy, it only corresponds to identified projects.

Data is from December, 2009.

SOURCE: Reserves Report. Undersecretariat of Fuels. Secretariat of Energy.

ELEMENTS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL ENERGETIC PLAN (Partial review, April 2008). Strategic Planning Group, Secretariat of Energy.

Reservoir and evaluation department. Raw Materials Exploration Area, CNEA.

1.2.2 Energy Statistics

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS (Exa-Joule Ej)

Average rate of annual growth (%)
1970 1980 1990 20002005 2007 2009*2000 to 2009
Energy consumption**
- Total 1.28 1.79 2.04 2.743.00 3.37 3.22 1.81
- Solids*** 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.030.04 0.05 0.05 4.50
- Liquids 0.91 1.12 0.98 1.121.10 1.26 1.15 0.26
- Gas 0.22 0.45 0.78 1.291.52 1.71 1.69 3.06
- Nuclear 0.00 0.04 0.09 0.070.09 0.09 0.09 2.16
- Hydro water 0.01 0.07 0.08 0.130.15 0.14 0.15 1.79
- Other renewable 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.090.09 0.12 0.09 0.03
Energetic production    
- Total 1.24 1.75 2.07 3.433.48 3.38 3.27 -0.52
- Solids*** 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.010.00 0.00 0.00 -12.03
- Liquids 0.84 1.06 1.04 1.661.42 1.38 1.34 -2.32
- Gas 0.28 0.50 0.78 1.471.72 1.74 1.68 1.51
- Nuclear 0.00 0.04 0.09 **** 0.00**** 0.00 **** 0.00 0.00 N/A
- Hydro water 0.01 0.07 0.08 0.130.15 0.14 0.15 1.90
- Other renewable 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.090.09 0.12 0.09 0.03
Net Import (Import – Export) 0.03 0.04 -0.02 -0.69-0.48 -0.01 -0.05 -24.61
- Total 1.28 1.79 2.04 2.743.00 3.37 3.27 1.99

 

*Last available data used

***Solid fuels including coal and lignite

****Since 1997, Argentina imports the totality of uranium consumed by its NPPs, by completely interrupting the local production.

SOURCE: Juan Gerardo Meira. National Director of Prospective. Secretariat of Energy. Ministry of Planning, Federal Public Investment and Services. Analía Duco. anduco@minplan.gov.ar

Until December 2010, REPSOL-YPF S.A was the main producer of natural gas, with a 24.5% share of the total production. The same happens with the exploitation of oil. 5 companies are in charge of 77% of the production: REPSOL-YPF S.A. (34%), Pan American Energy (18,8%), Occidental Exploration Inc. (6,7%), Chevron (6,6%) and Petrobrás S.A. (6,3%).

SOURCE: Monthly newspaper “ENERGÍA Y NEGOCIOS” Year XVI Nº 173 – December 2010, page 39.

Notwithstanding all this, the rates are decreasing since REPSOL-YPF decreased its relative participation in the market and there is a growing participation of new companies, such as: APACHE, OXY PETRÓLEO, PETROANDINA, ENTRE LOMAS, PETROLÍFERA and PETROLEUM.

Something similar happens with the hydrocarbon producer market in the refining market where leading companies such as REPSOL-YPF, PETROBRAS, ESSO and SHELL own the main oil (processing/refining) industry.

In 1995, there was a severe fall in uranium prices in the international market. Thus, mining activities in the deposit of Sierra Pintada, province of Mendoza, were suspended (the only exploited deposit in Argentina at that time) and the substitution of the local production by the import of concentrated uranium took place, which was transformed in the country.

1.2.3. Energy Policy

During the last years, several laws have been issued with the aim of decreasing the use of fossil fuels and making a rational use of energy by suggesting a series of objectives, mechanisms of promotion and recognising the importance of the participation of every energy source in the integration of the national energetic mix.

The main goal is to diversify the matrix of power generation with a bigger participation from the nuclear, hydro and renewable energies.

In accordance with this aim, regarding the nuclear sector, in August, 2006, the reactivation of the nuclear activity is politically declared in the country.

The enacted laws related to achieve the proposed aims are mentioned as follows:

Law No. 25019: promotes solar and wind energy;

Law No. 26093: promotes biofuels and its sustainable use;

Law No. 26123: promotes hydrogen as a fuel and energy vector;

Law No. 26566: expresses the interest to extend the life cycle of Embalse NPP, and authorizes the creation of trustfunds intended for that purpose and for the construction of a fourth nuclear reactor in Argentina. Moreover, the law states the construction of the CAREM 25 NPP as a matter of national interest, and puts CNEA in charge of it.

As regards the greenhouse gases, even though Argentina is not included among the country of the Annex I of the Kyoto Protocol, that is that it does not have the obligation to reduce their levels, it has begun a series of actions with the aim of diminishing its growth, oriented towards two directions: on the one hand, it acts according to the demand through energetic efficiency policies, and on the other, it operates through the offer by means of the Plan on the Expansion of the Power Generation System 2008-2025, through which the electric matrix has to be diversified in the medium and long term based on the water, nuclear and renewable energy (wind, solar, mini hydro, geothermic, among others).

Moreover, new ways to promote and encourage the search and exploitation of new gas and oil deposits have been created by companies from the private sector. Additionally, agreements between state and private companies have been settled intended for the search and exploitation in areas that belong to the National State.

Uranium mining activity in Argentina has been paralysed along with the rest of the nuclear plan in 1995. As a consequence of the reactivation of the nuclear plan in Argentina, exploration activities have been reintroduced as well as quantification of uranium resources.

SOURCE: Legal Information, Centre of Documentation and Information of the Ministry of Economy and Public Finance. http://www.infoleg.gov.ar/

1.3 The Electricity System

1.3.1 Electricity policy and decision making process

As a result of the governmental policies applied between 1960 and 1990, the electrical sector has been characterised for its:

It is important to highlight that during the mentioned decades, global energy policy was almost exclusively stated by the National Government, with planning both in the short and long term.

On the contrary, during the nineties, an electrical market completely deregulated through Law No. 24065 and its reglamentary decrees. Through this law two organisations have been created:

The offer and demand are related through the markets: "Term Market" and "Spot Market". In the first one, agreements between generators and big users or distributors are established, by setting the price and quantity of electricity to be commercialised for a determined period. Spot Market, on the other hand, is determined by the price/hour of energy calculated to marginal cost that the next MW incorporated to the system may have,

Law Nº 24065 also allowed:

• Privatization of the assets of the entire State-owned-thermal generation network -

• The concession to private companies of the operation of hydropower plants owned by the Federal Government, with the exception of the bi-national hydro power plants (Salto Grande and Yacyretá).

• The granting of the operation of networks in high voltage transmission, which is State owned

• The granting of the State owned distribution networks.

• Grant the expansion of the three systems (generation, transmission and distribution)to private , guaranteeing free access for any new generator to the idle capacity of transport (both high voltage and medium and low voltage distribution).

• Establish a minimum clearance system by marginal cost of generation, and remuneration to generators for maximum marginal cost of the system.

This policy generated at first an additional investment in thermal equipment by burning natural gas, which caused a high dependence of this fluid and, therefore, nuclear and hydraulic projects were abandoned.

This situation, along with the low prices of natural gas, and the start up of major hydraulic projects which were to be concluded since the state has committed itself to concluding it, cause a strong reduction in the prices of electric power allowance in the wholesale market, making private investments in new facilities quite unattractive During the nineties, there was a gradual reduction in the industrial sector. In December, 2001 Argentina suffered a financial economic crisis that continued up to 2002 with a reduction in the electric power demand.

From 2003 to 2008, Argentina experienced a quick recovery of the industrial sector along with a rapid growth of electric power demand. The market did not respond in a dynamic way and therefore a policy change took place.

Since 2004 the State has resumed its planning tasks with the aim of guiding investments by only performing those investments deemed necessary and of no interest for private investors.

The Secretary of Energy is focused on the solution of short term issues and on formulating and implementing a medium and long-termed energetic plan as a reference for private investors fundamentally based on the expansion of the system with a bigger participation in hydraulic, nuclear and renewable energies.

The plan engulfs two different scenarios with a different rate of growth of electric energy demand. The structural scenario includes the implementation of policies to implement the rational use of energy, while the tendency scenario reveals historic growth.

Scenarios: Structural-growth 2.2% a.a.

Tendency-growth: 3.1% a.a.

In Figures 1.9 and 1.10, estimates of electric power to be incorporated until 2025 appear showing the tendency and structural scenarios respectively.

Figure 1.9: Generation Capacity to be incorporated until the year 2005. Tendency scenario.

Figure 1.10: Generation Capacity to be incorporated until the year 2005. Structural scenario.

Figures 1.11 and 1.12 show the contribution of electric power of technologies considered in the tendency scenario.

Figure 1.11: Energetic Contribution of each source, Tendency Scenario.

Figure 1.12: Energetic Contribution of each source, Structural Scenario.

In 2009, electric power was 111.3 TWh, 55% of it was produced with fossil fuels (natural gas 45%, liquid fuels 12% and coal 2%), 7% nuclear, 36% hydraulic and 2% renewable.

A reduction in electric power generation with hydrocarbons to a 42% for the tendency and a 29% for the structural scenario would occur as a result of the implementation of the Governmental Plan. Nuclear power generation would increase to a 17% in the first case and to a 21% in the second. In the case of renewable energies, values would rise to 6% and 8% accordingly. Finally, the participation in hydraulic energy would rise to a 34% and to a 40% respectively. In Figures 1.13 and 1.14 the composition of generation sources is presented for 2025 in the tendency and structural scenario respectively.

Figure 1.13: Energetic Contribution of each source, year: 2025. Tendency Scenario.

Figure 1.14: Energetic Contribution of each source, year: 2025. Structural Scenario.

SOURCE: Elements for the Development and Diagnosis of the National Energetic Planning 2008-2025. Report on Advances. Version IV. Strategic Planning Group. Secretariat of Energy. December, 2008.

1.3.2 Structure of Electric Power Sector

The Electric Sector

In 1992, by means of Law No. 24065 and its reglamentary decrees, a horizontal division of integrated state companies occurs (SEGBA, Servicios Eléctricos de Gran Buenos Aires [Electrical Services of the outskirts of Buenos Aires]). Generation, transport and distribution were separated; thermal generators were privatised. Hydraulic generators, transport and electric power distribution were franchised.

Electric power generation

Argentina has a generation facility with three main generation sources: (thermal of fossil origin, hydraulic and nuclear) with part of wind generation.

Within the facility, technology mainly used is the combined cycle by burning natural gas.

Since 1994, NPPs are operated by a state company known as Nucleoeléctrica Argentina Sociedad Anónima (NA-SA) which came from the National Commission of Atomic Energy.

The entity responsible for dispatching (CAMMESA) prepares a merit order with the available generators by taking into account the marginal cost which originally considered the fuel incidence as exclusive; and at present it includes the operation and maintenance costs. With those criteria, the despatching is carried out in order to meet the demand and necessary margins so as to keep the quality supply.

According to the merit order, technologies dispatched first and foremost are as follows: base hydro and nuclear power generation. Then conventional thermal generation to meet the demand of valleys and the rest; hydro technologies of reservoir and gas turbines (working with liquid fuels) satisfy the peak demands. In Figure 1.15 a diagram of the schedule can be appreciated along with the applied technologies at each moment.

Figure 1.15: Schedule of Power Generation Technologies.

As regards retribution, generators receive it by means of the following concepts:

Transport

Transport in high and extra high tension is performed through TRANSENER: Transport Company of energy which operates the grid of national interconnection whose tension is 500 kV, and is linked to 6 regional operators:

At the end of 2010, a part of the new 500 kV electric line went into service, which will eventually connect the northeast and northwest regions of the country. In this first stage, Resistencia (Chaco Province) and Gran Formosa (Formosa Province) were connected, as well as Cobos (Salta Province) with El Bracho (Tucumán Province).

In Figure 1.16 the system of network of roads of extra high tension is shown.

Figure 1.16: Lines of 500 kV, 300 kV and 132 kV.

Table 1.1 presents lines of longitude and voltage run by each of the electric transporters, by 2010.

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 500 kV 330 kV 220 kV 132kV 66 kV 33 kV Total
TRANSENER 11444   562 6     12012
Troncal Distribution   1116 841 14701 422 24 17104
TRANSNOA       4076     4076
DISTROCUYO     634 611     1245
TRANSBA     177 5533 398   6108
TRANSNEA     30 1395   24 1449
DISTROCOMAHUE       1213     1213
TRANSPA   1116   1873     2989

 Transport Companies of Energy, Voltage and Extension of the Electric Transport Lines.

 

Distribution

65% of distribution corresponds to provincial public services and cooperatives.

The remaining 35% is distributed between private companies such as EDENOR, EDESUR and EDELAP:

Consumers

Great users are divided within the Electric Market in accordance with their consumption level:

1.3.3 Main Indicators

As already mentioned in 1.3.2, Argentina counts with three main sources of energy (thermal, fossil, water and nuclear power) and an additional small one, which is wind energy.

Power from the electrical generators in December, 2010 comes from 59% of thermal generators of fossil origin, 37.4% of hydro generators and 3.6% of nuclear origin.

Thermal generators represent 26.7% of the total generation park with steam turbines; 21.2% with gas turbines; 49.2% of combined cycles and 2.9% with diesel engines.

Hydro power stations represent 11.5% of the total generation installed capacity with run of river power plants, 23.2% are reservoir plants and 2.7% are pumping plants.

Current nuclear power plants are: Atucha I PHWR NPP which has 1.3% of the installed power of the total capacity and Embalse CANDU type NPP which produces 2.3% of the total energy. Tables 5 and 6 present the main characteristics of the electric sector.

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY

Average rate of annual growth (%)
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2007 2009* 2000 to 2009
Capacity of electric power station (GWe)
- Thermal 6.08 8.01 9.48 15.75 17.34 18.13 21.03 3.29
- Hydraulic 0.61 3.63 6.61 9.60 9.94 9.97 10.04 0.50
- Nuclear 0.00 0.37 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.02 0.00
- Wind 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.03 7.90
- Geothermal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
- Other renewable 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
- Total 6.69 12.00 17.11 26.35 28.33 29.14 32.13 2.23
Electricity production (TW.h)   
- Thermal 20.17 22.22 25.58 53.93 63.87 75.84 78.94 4.33
- Hydraulic 1.55 15.14 18.14 28.84 34.25 31.65 35.18 2.23
- Nuclear 0.00 2.34 7.28 6.18 6.87 7.22 8.16 3.14
- Wind 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.65
- Geothermal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
- Other renewable 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
- Total (1) 21.73 39.71 51.00 88.98 105.0 114.7 122.33 3.60
Total Consumo Eléctrico (TW.h) 18.72 33.49 40.53 75.28 90.20 101.83 106.36 3.91

(1) Losses in the electrical transmission are not deduced.

* Last available data

SOURCE: Juan Gerardo MEIRA, National Director of Market Prospective. Ministry of Energy. Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services. Analía DUCO. anduco@minplan.gov.ar.

TABLE 6. RELATION OF THE ENERGETIC RATES

1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2007 2009*
Energetic Consumption per capita (GJ/capita) 53.25 63.62 62.76 74.40 75.47 86.49 81.54
Electricity Consumption per capita (kW.h/capita) 745.73 1170.73 1238.24 2026.10 2337.62 2587.00 6.67
Electric/Energetic Production (%) 6.29 8.16 8.59 9.34 10.95 12.22 13.25
Nuclear/Total Electricity (%) 0.00 5.89 14.28 6.94 6.54 6.29 6.67
External Dependence Rate (%) (1) 8.60 12.50 2.14 -27.80 -21.78 -3.86 0.12

(1) Net Import / Total Energy Consumption.

* Last available data

SOURCE: Juan Gerardo MEIRA, National Director of Market Prospective. Secretariat of Energy. Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services. Analía DUCO. anduco@minplan.gov.ar.

National Energetic Balance 2009. Secretariat of Energy.

Statistical Report of the Electric Sector 2009. Secretariat of Energy.

2. NUCLEAR POWER SITUATION

2.1 Historical Development and Current Organizational Structure

2.1.1 Overview

Few years after 1943, Enrico Fermi achieved the controlled chain reaction, thus, introducing the nuclear subject in the worldwide scientific community. In Argentina first moves were made so as to establish the National Commission of Atomic Energy (CNEA), entity responsible for every nuclear activity with peaceful purposes performed at a national level.

The creation of CNEA in 1950 was framed within an industrialization process promoted by the Government, with the firm intention of not only possessing nuclear technology but to become its producer.

The construction of CNA-I was concluded, which started to operate in 1974.

Construction of the experimental reactor RA-6 at CAB, Rio Negro Province, in 1982.

Starting in 1996, CNA I began to use fuels containing slightly enriched uranium (“ULE”, with 0.85% U-235) and since 2001, it has been the first and the only pressurized heavy water reactor using ULE on a 100% basis. This transition from natural uranium to ULE in the nuclear plant brought a 40% reduction in the use of fuel, along with a 30% reduction in its cost.

It is worth mentioning that Argentina has experience in design, construction and assembly of experimental reactors and up to the present day it has exported the following reactors:

SOURCE: NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION http://www.cnea.gov.ar/;

INVAP COMPANY WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE STATE http://www.invap.com.ar/;

INFOLEG LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION http://www.infoleg.gov.ar/.

2.1.2 Current Organizational Chart(s)

Since August 30, 1994 through a governmental decree, the nuclear sector has been reorganised and thus nuclear activity has been divided into three entities: Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN, by its Spanish acronym), Nucleoeléctrica Argentina Sociedad Anónima (NA-SA) and the National Commission of Atomic Energy (CNEA) are responsible for the regulation, operation of facilities and for research and the development of the sector accordingly. Before that division, every activity was developed by CNEA.

The following Figure introduces the dependence of the actors of the nuclear area with the national government.

Figure 2.1: Organizational Chart of the National Nuclear Activity.

ARN assumed the responsibilities for regulating nuclear activities which were previously performed by CNEA. Its function is to establish regulations on nuclear and radiological safety and make regulations related with physical protection and the control of using nuclear materials. It is responsible for granting licenses, regulations of nuclear facilities and meeting international safeguards.

The main task of NASA is to operate nuclear power plants. At present, it is responsible for financing the construction of CNA II. The decree also binds NASA to paying an annual tax to CNEA and ARN for licence fees.

The abovementioned decree was then formally substituted by Law N° 24084 known as the "National Law of Nuclear Activity" sanctioned by the Argentine National Congress in 1997 that came into force in 1998. This federal law ratified CNEA original participation in the three entities and would legally allow the gradual/eventual NASA privatization through an international bid.

CNEA advises the Executive Power on the definition of the nuclear policy. As a Research and Development Institution in the nuclear area, it performs activities connected to the nuclear area and human resources to work in it; it regulates decommissioning of the relevant nuclear facilities; carries out programmes related to nuclear NPPs, nuclear fuel cycle, radioisotopes applications and radiations; management of radioactive wastes and owns special fissionable radioactive materials.

The Figure 2.2. presents the diagram of fund sources of the three nuclear entities.

Figure 2.2: Cash Flow of Nuclear Activity.

Other nuclear entities are the associated companies with CNEA, created as commercial entities devoted to production activities at an industrial scale, such as:

In the Figure 2.3, the technical relations and supply connections are presented among CNEA, NA-SA, supplier companies and ARN.

Figure 2.3: Technical and Supply links of the Nuclear Sector.

SOURCE: MINISTRY OF FEDERAL PLANNING, PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND SERVICES. http://www.minplan.gov.ar/,

NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY: http://www.cnea.gov.ar/,

NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY: http://www.arn.gov.ar/,

NA-SA NUCLEOELÉCTRICA ARGENTINA SA: http://www.na-sa.com.ar/,

ENSI SE EMPRESA NEUQUINA DE SERVICIOS DE INGENIERÍA: http://www.ensi.com.ar/,

CONUAR SA: http://www.conuar.com.ar/,

DIOXITEK SA: http://www.dioxitek.com.ar/,

INVAP SE: http://www.invap.com.ar/,

FAE SA: http://www.fae.com.ar/.

2.2 Nuclear Power Plants: Overview

2.2.1 Status and Performance of Nuclear Power Plants

At present, around 7% of the electricity in Argentina is produced is by two nuclear facilities in operation, CNA I and CNE, that have a total installed facility capacity of 1005 MWe with a net contribution of 935 MWe.

During the period 1984-1990, nuclear participation represented around a 15% of the total generated electricity which has been gradually reduced owing to the extension of the installed capacity based on other technologies and the discontinuity of the nuclear plan which resulted in the halt of building activities concerning CNAII NPP CNA II, located next to CNA I, is still under construction but is over 90% constructed. Its conclusion is forecasted for 2011 and it will increase electronuclear power in a 10%.

The main characteristics of NPPs in operation are presented as follows:

CNA I:

It is sited on the right bank of the river Paraná de Las Palmas, Lima, Zárate, province of Buenos Aires 100 km from the City of Buenos Aires. Thermal power of the NPP is of 1179 MWt thus contributing with 220 kV to the Interconnection Argentine System (SADI).

It is a pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR), refrigerated and moderated with heavy water. At first, fuel elements were designed based on natural uranium (0.7% of U-235 isotope), but by a modification performed in 1995 it was possible to replace it with slightly enriched uranium (0.85% of U-235 isotope), in order to raise the degree of fuel element burn up by reducing the number of consumed elements. It became the first reactor in the world to operate with this degree of enrichment and heavy water.

This NPP engulfs the following facilities: reactor, primary, secondary and tertiary refrigeration circuits, the pressure maintenance system, the moderator system, auxiliary and secondary facilities, turbine building and the electric operations area. It also has two spent fuel elements pools located in an adjoining building.

A particular characteristic of this reactor is that it has a machine to replace fuel elements which avoids the interruption of the service, something different from the NPPs with PWR (Pressurised Water Reactor) or BWR (Boiling Water Reactor).

CNE:

Chronologically, it is the second Argentine NPP and the largest thermal unitary (machinery) Argentine reactor with an electric nominal power of 648 MW.

CNE is located in the southern coast of Embalse de Río Tercero, province of Córdoba, 665m above the sea level. It is 100 km away from Córdoba city and 700 km from the City of Buenos Aires. It began its commercial service on January 20, 1984 and uses a CANDU reactor, Canadian Deuterium Uranium, with PHWR technology. It uses natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as refrigerant and moderator. Just like CNA I, loading and unloading of the fuel is performed during the operation of the NPP.

Apart from generating electrical power for SADI, this NPP also produces cobalt-60 (Co60), used in medical, industrial and research applications. It is the third worldwide producer of the mentioned radioisotope.

The geographical location of the operating NPPs is presented in Figure 2.4.

Figure 2.4: Site and characteristics of the operating NPPs.

The main characteristics of the NPP under construction are described as follows:

CNA II:

CNA II is sited on the right bank of the river Paraná de Las Palmas, in Lima, Zárate, province of Buenos Aires, 100 km from the City of Buenos Aires, next to CNA I.

In the same way as its neighbouring NPP, CNA II is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) whose fuel will initially be natural uranium following the original design.

The geographical location and characteristics of the NPP under construction is presented in Figure 2.5.

Figure 2.5: Location and Characteristics of the Power Plants Under Operation

Thermal power of the NPP is 2175 MWt thus obtaining an electric gross power of 745 MWe which represents the largest power unitary machine to enter SADI once it has begun operating in 2011.

CNA II is under construction according to the construction license, regulations and inspection programme provided by ARN.

In Table 7, the characteristics of the NPPs in operation and under construction are presented.

TABLE 7. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

StationType Net CapacityStatus Operator Reactor SupplierConstruction Date Criticality Date Grid Date Commercial DateShutdown Date
ATUCHA-1PHWR 335Operational NASASIEMENS1968-06-011974-01-13 1974-03-191974-06-24
EMBALSEPHWR 600Operational NASAAECL1974-04-011983-03-13 1983-04-251984-01-20
ATUCHA-2PHWR 692Under Construction NASASIEMENS1981-07-14 2012-07-06

* UCF (Unit Capability Factor) for the latest available year (only applicable to reactors in operation).

** Latest available data, December 2010.

+ Date, when first major placing of concrete, usually for the base mat of the reactor building is done.

++ Date of the first connection to the grid.

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY http:www.cnea.gov.ar

NUCLEOELÉCTRICA ARGENTINA S.A.: http://www.na-sa.com.ar

INTERNATIONAL AGENCY OF ATOMIC ENERGY. SYSTEM OF NPPS INFORMATION: http://www.iaea.org/pris.

2.2.2 Plant Upgrading, Plant Life Management and License Renewals

CNA I:

Througout its life time, different improvements in the facility design were implemented, such as: rechange of all fuel elements refuel canals of, construction of the second ultimate heat sink, construction of the second spent fuel temporary storage pool and the modification of the steam dump tertiary circuit dump canal of the tertiary circuit owing to the construction of CNA II.

In 1996, the change of the fuel original design was from using natural uranium to using slightly enriched uranium which resulted in a 40% reduction in the fuel consumption and around 30% reduction it their costs. Thus the date in which the storage pool would reach its highest capacity was postponed.

At present, the feasibility of a spent fuel elements dry storage for when they are extracted from their storage pools, is being undertaken

CNE:

NPP is estimated to conclude its life time in 2012 and thus Nucleoeléctrica Argentina is developing its Life Extension Project.

The objective of the project is to extend its lifetime up to another 25 years of a safe, trustworthy and competitive operation. Additionally, it is expected to increase the electric power of the NPP in approximately 35 MWe.

In this context, CNE is developing actions linked with the facility life time management and has completed the analysis of life and ageing assessment for different NPP systems.

The major working areas to be developed in the project are: revision of pressure and calandria tubes, feeder, change of steam generators and repowering.

CNA II

From a design and construction perspective, CNA II counts with updated safety systems, including the concept of defence in depth with successive barriers, contention sphere, physical separation between safety systems and surveillance programme in service, among other concepts.

The schedule of the project consists of three stages: Stage I of relaunching the project (organisation, recovery of the infrastructure, engineering and contracts), Stage II: construction and assembly (at present under development) and Stage III NPP start-up/commissioning.

The remaining design tasks are performed by NA-SA with the contribution of scientific and technological resources of CNEA and with the participation of other entities and national and international companies.

SOURCE: NUCLEOELÉCTRICA ARGENTINA S.A.: http://www.na-sa.com.ar

2.3 Future Development of Nuclear Power

2.3.1 Nuclear Power Development Strategy

The strategic nuclear Argentine plan includes the reactivation of the sector, basically from an energetic point of view, through the insertion of the electric matrix of major nuclear participation by revitalising the applications in medical and industrial areas.

This reactivation is based on the knowledge and domain of disciplines of a high technical and technological level that place the country in a competitive worldwide context. Even though there was paralysis in some nuclear activities during the nineties, nowadays Argentina counts with a sector which transcends its own barriers and has managed to be known by the rest of the industrial and service sectors.

Thus it is forecasted that it is likely for Argentina to recover those capacities not wisely used during the last decade. Moreover, it is expected that it will prepare and train the necessary human resources that will bear the responsibility to continue and improve the nuclear development in Argentina in order to supply present and future energetic needs/

Notwithstanding the political definition provided in 2006, on September 1st, 1999 Law N° 25160 was sanctioned (enacted on September 27th, 1999) thus enabling CNEA to create the CAREM Project, which was registered by CNEA and INVAP SE.

More details about the nuclear plan were announced on August 23rd, 2006 by means of the speech delivered by the Minister of Planning, Public Investment and Services, Julio De Vido, whose main parts are transcribed as follows:

“(...) This reactivation is based on two technical, pragmatic main points which have a mere strategic content:

-In the first place, a massive production of nucleoelectric energy, (...)

-Second, nuclear technological applications to public health and industry (…).

“(...) As part of the plan, building activities of Atucha II NPP will be concluded and this NPP will be commissioned.”

As previously mentioned on 1.2.3., National Law N° 26566 was sanctioned on November 25th, 2009 and enacted on December 17th, 2009. This law regulates nuclear activities and enables:

As regards prospecting and exploitation activities, a plan entails the reopening of certain mining areas already developed in former years ,as well as the incorporation of new reserves through prospecting with the aim of reactivating national prospecting of uranium.

By continuing with the activities required by the fuel cycle, the uranium enrichment project through gaseous diffusion process in the Pilcaniyeu Technological Complex, in the province of Río Negro is being undertaken. At present, the stage of preparation of the enrichment pilot plant is under development.

By taking into account the great worldwide participation of enriched uranium and light water reactors, studies have been undertaken to determine the feasibility to incorporate this line of reactors in Argentina, by concluding that “Argentina has to incorporate an enriched uranium NPP which should resemble a 3rd generation NPP”, thus being indispensable to adopt a short term decision, given the internal and external implications from a technological, economic and human resource point of view, since the incorporation of NPPs with enriched uranium would enable the optimization of the fuel cycle in Argentina through the application of both technologies.

The strategy is based on promoting the competition among suppliers with the aim of achieving the technological transference, the best economic, financial conditions, ideal guarantees of components and critical supplies just as already done with CNA I, CNE and CNA II.

The incorporation of an enriched uranium reactor does not imply that natural uranium reactors have to be abandoned but that there must be a complementation between both lines.

CNEA has adopted a responsible attitude towards the environment and the prevention of environmental pollution and thus created a Programme on Environmental Restitution of Uranium Mining (PRAMU) which sets the following objectives: ensuring the environmental protection, health and other rights of present and future generations, by making a rational use of resources. PRAMU, in that framework, intends to improve the present conditions of uranium mining tailings deposits by considering that even though at present they are under control, in the long term, different remediation actions have to be performed so as to ensure the protection of the environment and the public.

Last December 16, CNEA sent the Preliminary Safety Report (IPS) prepared by CAREM to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) thus fulfilling all the necessary requirements so as to obtain the license to build the reactor.

Another nuclear power plant is expected to be constructed, thus reaching 4900 MWe of nuclear power in accordance with the strategic nuclear plan which would include:

The modality of contracting each NPP will be defined at the moment of bidding always taking into account the strategies already considered for the already installed NPPs.

The policy related to the nuclear fuel cycle includes the recovery of all the national fuel cycle stages already developed by adding those not assessed that will eventually allow the fulfilment of the cycle (enrichment, reprocessing, etc.).

In accordance with the National Law Nº 25018 “Management of Radioactive Wastes”, CNEA is responsible for supervising and treating wastes coming from any nuclear Argentine user that may guarantee the final disposal of low, medium and high level radioactive wastes.

Spent fuel elements coming from NPPs have a high level activity but are not considered radioactive wastes. Thus, they are temporarily stored in decaying pools and/or dry storage silos.

In the case of CNE, spent fuel elements are deposited in the decaying pools during 5 to 6 years and after that period, they are transferred to transitory dry storage silos located in the same site of the NPP.

CNA I´s spent fuel elements (which are of around 5 metres long), stay stored in the decaying pools as from the beginning of the NPP operation. At present, studies are being carried out in order to determine the feasibility of dry transitory storage of these fuels.

CNEA guarantees transitory storage and treatment of radioactive waste in CAE (Ezeiza Atomic Centre). This includes medium and low level radioactive waste of any origin in Argentina as well as spent fuel groups in research and production Argentine reactors.

According to the same federal law, CNEA is responsible for receiving each Argentine NPP at the end of its operation life and for all its stages of its decommissioning and decontamination.

According to this law, the “Fund for Radioactive Waste Management” is expected to be created. This fund would be destined for financing the National Programme of Waste Management in charge of CNEA, and would be established by contributions from radioactive wastes.

The National State makes financial contributions through CNEA for the National Programme of Radioactive Wastes budget until this article of the law is regulated since neither this fund nor the percentage of the invoicing has been created, which the operator of the NPP should contribute to its constitution.

In Table 8, the information of future NPPs is presented.

TABLE 8. PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

NPP
Name of the project		Type Capacity (MWe)Expected Year to begin the construction Expected year of start up
CNA IIPHWR7451981 / 2006 *2011
CAREM 25PWR2520092015
Cuarta centralPWR1000-1400 **20142018
CAREM 150PWR15020102019
Quinta CentralPWR150020182024
Sexta CentralPWR150020222028

*Year of resumption of building works

** The final output depends on the outcome of the bid, as it responds to the design of the suppliers.

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY http://www.cnea.gov.ar/

NUCLEOELÉCTRICA ARGENTINA S.A. http://www.na-sa.com.ar/

LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION, CENTRE OF DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION FROM THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC FINANCES http://www.infoleg.gov.ar/.

2.3.2 Project Management

Project Management of CNA I and CNE were performed by CNEA as well as the beginning of CNA II´s construction (80% of the total work).

Main actors of the nuclear sector were those mentioned in section 2.1.2 The following private capital companies that at present provide services in the nuclear area can be mentioned.

SOURCE: TECHINT. http://www.techint.com/group/es/

TECNA. http://www.tecna.com.ar/

ELECTROINGENIERÍA S.A. http://www.eling.com.ar/index1.htm

IECSA S.A. http://www.grupoods.com.ar/grupo-ODS/

INVAP S.E. http://www.invap.com.ar/

IMPSA. http://www.impsa.com.ar/

2.3.3 Project Funding

Traditionally, Argentine NPPs were partially financed through its own suppliers as was the case of KWU companies of Germany for CNA I´s construction and Canadian AECL for achieving CNE´s financing. Additionally, these tasks received specific funds from the national state including the “Great Electric Works” as well as national treasure contributions.

Argentina has only counted with its own suppliers as a private source of financing for its nuclear activities.

As another record of financing activities in the nuclear area, remediation tasks of mining tailings can be mentioned. At present, they are performed with funds provided by the World Bank and carried out through the Programme on Environmental Remediation of Uranium Mining (PRAMU).

As regards the activities to develop the future of the nuclear area, financing of the following sources is expected to be obtained:

Before interrupting the activities: it was financed by German KWU and with specific state funds and contributions from the Argentine public treasure.

  1. After resuming the activities: with specific public funds and contributions from the Argentine public treasure by means of a trusteeship named “Atucha II Completion Plan”. The National Government entrusted NA-SA with the direction and administration of the activities in order to finish them. Among other conditions, the following were established: “acts performed by NA-SA, through Atucha II’s NPP Management Department, which will be ruled by regulations and principles of private law”.

Additionally, National Law No. 26566, ruling nuclear activity, engulfs other financing options as follows:

Those trusts created will be made up of:

  1. Contributions of the National Treasure with those annual sums of money provided by the Law of General Budget of the National Administration.

  2. Resources coming from credit operations in the internal or external market. Those financial means which are most convenient can be requested subject to the provisions of the following Laws: Law No. 19328 (General Dispositions concerning Determination of the Policy or Level of Indebtedness), Law No. 24156 (Financial Administration and Control Systems) and Law No. 24354 (National Public Investment), as well as modified and complementary laws as long as they are not modified by the present law.

  3. Resources owned by NA-SA as well as those coming from special laws and those specifically assigned to this law with the aim to reconcile differences existing between future investments and resources coming from points a) and b);

  4. Incomes made up of legacies or donations.

  5. Funds provided by international entities or non governmental organisations.

At present the use of funds for CNEA´s investment projects through the Bank of Public Investment Projects (BAPIN) is expected and those funds are part of the multi annual budget. The BAPINs enable the identification, creation, monitoring, assessment and control of physical investment programmes that may be developed with the resources from the National Treasure or international financing, which are begun by any of the jurisdictions of the public sector and performed by these.

Other public sources not included in the above paragraphs are the following:

Other private sources: working in obtaining financing through international credit organisations such as the Inter American Bank of Development.

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY. http://www.cnea.gov.ar/

LEGISLATIVE ORGANISATION, CENTRE OF DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC FINANCE. http://www.infoleg.gov.ar/

2.3.4 Electric Grid Development

Transport grid nets of electric power in the Argentine Republic are divided by voltage tension level. They are classified in extra high, high, medium and low voltage tension. According to its capacity, grid nets are operated by national haulage contractors (extra high tension voltage) and regional haulage contractors (high and medium tension voltage).

Nets of energy transmission grid have a radial configuration with centre in the City of Buenos Aires but are under construction and in project those lines that tend to close the energetic ring.

Transport capacity of each line of 500 kV is 1000 MWh.

As regards interconnections with neighbouring countries, there are two lines of transmission between Argentina and Brazil of 500 kV, two lines between Argentina and Uruguay of 500 kV and also a line between Argentina and Chile of 330 kV.

As mentioned in IAEA ´s TRS 224, the characteristics of the grid net for the connection of an NPP are:

SADI quite fulfils all these requirements. The system counts on a modern and independent dispatcher performed by CAMMESA.

A Federal Plan is being implemented in Argentina. It is a plan of electric transport whose main objective is to close the energetic ring by connecting the mesh of the nets grid in order to increase safety of required supply, as also decrease investment costs in the supply system ,as long as low cost resources of localised opportunities in a distant geographical point manage to reach the demand centres, as well as to contribute to remove transport restrictions in SADI in the short and medium term, and also to manage a balanced and equal development in the different regions of the country.

As regards dispatch system, MEM´s operation is carried out in real time independently of the term contracts executed by generators in which every section between what is agreed and the effective operation is channelled through the spot market. In order to meet the demand in real time constant measurements are performed of the environmental temperature in those areas of higher consumption by estimating values expected from demand depending on the demand from the previous day and from the same day of the previous week by distinguishing it per hour, working day or holiday and by considering extraordinary events that may cause variations in demand (such as, sport events, heat waves, and so on).

SADI also counts on a dynamic protection system that responds before failures in transport and/or forced outages of generators.

In every electric SADI region, it is possible that a 300MW NPP is installed with minimum changes in the existing electric infrastructure. On the contrary, only some of them are capable of dealing with a NPP installation with a contribution larger than 100 MW.

At present, SADI counts on a reserve margin counting with limited availability to face demand peaks through generators management performed by CAMMESA. In the future, incorporations are expected to gradually improve this margin.

SOURCE: COMISION NACIONAL DE ENERGIA ATOMICA http://www.cnea.gov.ar/,

COMPAÑIA ADMINISTRADORA DEL MERCADO MAYORITA ELECTRICO S.A. ADMINISTRATOR COMPANY OF THE ELECTRIC MAJORITY MARKET S.A.: http://www.cammesa.com.ar/,

2.3.5 Site Selection

CNA II, at present under construction, as well as CNA I are located 100 km away from the City of Buenos Aires on the right margin of the river Paraná de Las Palmas (average water flow: 17300 m3/s). In that same site the indigenous prototype CAREM reactor is also under construction and it will produce 25 MWe.

The fourth NPP is also expected to be built there since it is under license and has a water level intended for cooling the secondary system in order to assist every NPP sited there. Besides, the construction of a “Centre of Services provided for NPPs” is also expected.

CNEA (before the Division Prospective and Energetic Planning of CNEA) carried out a study intended for the macro location of potential sites. Thus, three levels of consecutive application of requirements are established according to the following description:

-Legal framework.

-Cooling water availability.

-Regional seismic considerations.

-Integration to the interconnected system-

-Infrastructure.

-Availability of free surfaces.

-Study of soils/land.

-Climatic conditions.

-Study of the population of the region (radius 100 km).

-Study of economic activities of the region (radius 100 km).

In accordance with aid studies, the following possible sites were obtained and appear in Figure 2.6 whose references are:

It requires conventional engineering precautions which do not significantly modify the total cost of the building activities.

It requires engineering precautions that raise the total cost of the building activities up to 15%. For the Demand aspect: it is a site with potentially unsatisfied demand.

It requires engineering precautions increasing the total cost of the building activity in a sensitive way (over 15%).

For the Demand aspect: it is a site with surplus of energy.

LocationLegal Framework iCooling WaterSeismic RiskHigh tension linesInfra-structure iiDemandSource
Lima
(Buenos Aires)		[1]
Rio Tercero
(Córdoba)		[2]
Bahía Blanca
(Buenos Aires)		[3]
Los Nihuiles
(Mendoza)		[4]
Timbúes
(Santa Fe)		[5]
Hernandarias (Entre Ríos)[5]
Cabra Corral (Salta)[6]
Viedma
(Rio Negro)		[-]
San Juan
(San Juan)		[6]
El Cadillal
(Tucumán)		[6]
Atlantic coast (Buenos Aires)[6]
Formosa
(Formosa)		[6]

Figure 2.6: Characteristics of potential sites.

iLegal framework: the necessary time to modify a regulation depends on its hierarchy. This raises the price of the total cost of the project due to the delay at the beginning of the construction of the building tasks.

ii Infrastructure: it refers to load transportation requirements for the construction, either transport by sea, river, railway or road.

SOURCES:

[1] Study of pre investment. NPP for Gran Buenos Aires area. Littoral/Coastline. CNEA 1965.

[2] Study of pre investment: NPP for Córdoba Province. CNEA 1968.

[3] Study of NPP siting in the southern subsystem site of the Province of Buenos Aires. Bahía Blanca. CNEA 1976.

[4] Study of NPP siting for Cuyo Region. CNEA 1976.

[5] NPP. Argentine siting Los Timbúes y Hernandarias. NPPs CNEA 1986.

[6] INPRO. Methodology for the Assessment of Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles. Stage I planning. Final Argentine report. Prospective and energetic planning. CNEA 2006.

In Figure 2.7 location of potential sites appear.

Figure 2.7: Location of potential sites.

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY http://www.cnea.gov.ar/

2.4 Organizations involved in construction of NPPs

From the beginning of the nuclear activity in Argentina, in negotiations and the signature of agreements, beyond the provision of NPPs, it was expected to count on the comprehensive and complete programme of knowledge transference from technology suppliers to the national nuclear sector and achieve the broadest possible local participation.

CNEA promoted the creation of national companies specialised in the nuclear area essential for the Argentine nuclear programme as mentioned in section 2.1.2 encouraging and monitoring their continuity.

In the construction and assembly of NPPs CNE, CNA I and beginning of CNA II the following companies participated:

  1. Degremont S.A. http://www.degremont.com/

  2. Essener Hochdruck Rohrleistungsbau (HER) www.essenerhochdruck.de

  3. Mannesmann Analgenbau AG www.mannesmann.com/index2.html

  4. Mellor Goodwin S.A. www.mellorgoodwin.com

  5. SADE SACIF construction engineering SA

At present NA-SA is responsible for concluding CNA II and the fourth central. The companies participating in the construction and commissioning of the current CNA II are as follows:

  1. CNEA www.cnea.gov.ar

  2. NA-SA www.na-sa.com.ar

  3. AECL www.aecl.ca

  4. ANDRITZ www.andritz.com/ANONID1CA12273F90A685B/index

  5. AREVA www.areva.com/pre-home.html

  6. Asea brown boveri www.abb.com.ar

  7. BHR-Electroingeniería SA www.eling.com.ar/index1.htm

  8. BLANCO MONTAJES SA

  9. CONUAR SA www.conuar.com.ar/home.htm

  10. DIOXITEK SA www.dioxitek.com.ar

  11. DYCASA SA www.dycasa.com/home_esp.htm

  12. E & E POWER PLANT SERVICES www.powerplantserviceinc.com

  13. ENSI SE www.ensi.com.ar

  14. FAE SA www.fae.com.ar

  15. Henisa Sudamericana SA www.henisa.com.ar

  16. IECSA SA www.grpoods.com.ar/grupo-ODS/

  17. IMPSA SA www.impsa.com.ar

  18. INDIGO SRL www.indigoargentina.com.ar

  19. INGENIERÍA INTEGRAL (integral engineering) www.ingintegral.com.ar

  20. INVAP SE www.invap.com.ar

  21. KSB www.ksb.com.ar/home/products/products.html

  22. SA E CONSTRUCCIÓN Y MONTAJE DON FIERRO (Construction and assembly Corporation Don Fierro) www.donfierro.com.ar/init.htm

  23. SCK: www.sckcen.be

  24. SOLENER SA: www.solener.com

  25. TECHINT www.techint.com/group/es/

  26. TECNA www.tecna.com.ar

  27. UNIVERSIDAD DE PISA (University of Pisa) www.unipi.it

  28. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE SAN JUAN (National University of San Juan) www.unsj.edu.ar

  29. WARNER SAINT GOBAIN www.saint-gobain.com

CNEA is responsible for the construction of CAREM prototype reactor which has not begun yet.

2.5 Organizations involved in operation of NPPs

Since 1994 operation of NPPs is NA-SA´s responsibility. These NPPs belong to the national state. Likewise, CNEA is the technical support of the NPPs. Main actors of the nuclear sector have been mentioned in section 2.1.2.

Commercial operations related to the sale of electric power are performed by NA-SA. CAMMESA is responsible for the administration and electric dispatch.

2.6 Organizations involved in decommissioning of NPP

Decommissioning of NPPs, research reactors and every radioactive facility is contemplated in Law No. 24804 governing the nuclear activity. This law states that CNEA is responsible for documents and decommissioning activities when nuclear facilities reach the end of their life time.

As regards research reactors, their operation is responsibility of CNEA as well as providing information to execute the decommissioning plan taking into account historic data of operation and the flows of wastes generated by said reactors.

NASA is in charge of the operation of the NPP as well as of the provision of information and the necessary funds for decommissioning to be performed by CNEA.

The Nuclear Regulatory Authority is responsible for granting licenses for decommissioning and shut down. This is stated in rule AR 3.17.1: Decommissioning of NPPs.

At present preliminary decommissioning plans are being performed by estimating the flows of waste in every relevant and non relevant nuclear facility in operation. In this framework the process of gathering information continues as from historical data of each facility in order to set forth requirements and guidelines of the necessary documents for the later decommissioning management.

As regards NPPs, CNEA is creating an agreement with NASA in order to carry out the Preliminary Plan of Decommissioning of CNA I and to participate in the performance of treatment tasks and component and structure management during the life extension of CNE. In order to achieve this institutional work teams are being implemented.

Technological developments are coordinated and performed at a lab level in order to decontaminate structures and components which are radiologically active by using different techniques such as: polishing with abrasive means in vibratory containers and application of electrochemical decontamination.

A lab to develop decontamination techniques is being assembled in Lima –province of Buenos Aires– so as to provide technological assistance to CNEA´s projects and relevant nuclear facilities.

In order to reutilise structural components as non radioactive elements it is necessary to negotiate before the ARN its classification as non radioactive components.

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY.

www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/legislacion/nacional/LEYACTIVIDADNUCLEAR.pdf

NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY www.arn.gov.ar

2.7 Fuel Cycle including Waste Management

Every activity of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle is oriented towards satisfying the main objective consisting of: guaranteeing reserves and supply in the long term with national uranium of the fuel requirements for the operation of the NPPs and production and research reactors in operation and to be built.

Productive activities of the fuel cycle are at present performed in Argentina referred to the nuclear fuel cycle are the following: uranium prospecting, conversion and purification, fuel elements fabrication/manufacturing and interim storage of spent fuels. Moreover, research is under development, works to a lab scale and a pilot plant in the following stages of the cycle: production, enrichment, reprocessing and waste management.

As regards the strategies of radioactive waste management, every activity is oriented towards guaranteeing the protection of the environment, public health and the rights of future generations in accordance with the regulations set forth by ARN, regulations at national and provincial levels and regulations from the City of Buenos Aires as well as relevant international agreements.

The stages and characteristics of the developed fuel cycle in the country are detailed as follows:

Mining, Prospecting and Production:

The Argentine Mining Code, sanctioned under the Law No. 1919 entitles CNEA to perform prospecting, exploration and exploitation of nuclear minerals. CNEA performs activities throughout the country in order to develop uranium prospecting and exploration of uranium resources. As a result of the uranium prospects, it is worth mentioning prospecting in Vaquerías (Salta Province), El Gallo, Noya, Donatos and Diez (La Rioja Province), El Cruce, Cerro La virgin, Sierra Cuadrada and Cerro Chivo (Chubut Province). Exploration of uranium resources is performed in the Pichiñán Uranium District, Cerro Solo and Laguna Colorada and Laguna Sirven, (Santa Cruz Province). Uranium reserves are expected to be reasonably guaranteed. CNEA has under its control 16500 tons and speculative resources totalling 14000 additional tons.

Several private companies of development of uranium prospects exist but none of them is under the stage of exploring resources. Among the companies that develop these activities, the following can be mentioned: Calypso Uranium SA, Jackson Global Ltd., Uranio AG, Wealth Minerals Ltd., Marifil Mines Ltd., Madero Minerals SA, Globe Uranium Argentina SA, Mega Uranium Ltd and the company of San Juan province, EPSE.

As regards the production of uranium concentrates, in Mendoza province, the San Rafael Industrial Mining Complex has been brought to a standstill in 1994 since the price of the imported uranium concentrate was financially more convenient than the one produced locally. CNEA is working in order to reopen the mentioned complex by performing remediation actions of environmental passives of the mining tails.

Uranium Conversion

Conversion of U3O8 to UO2 has been performed in DIOXITEK SA. The processing capacity of the company is 170 t of UO2 per year.

Currently processed U3O8 is completely imported. Studies to improve the capacity and to transfer the plant with the aim of meeting new requirements, deriving from the start up of CNA II and the future NPPs, are being undertaken.

Uranium Enrichment

Uranium enrichment is an activity performed by CNEA in the Pilcaniyeu Technological Complex. Argentina wishes to maintain and consolidate uranium enrichment technologies so as to guarantee that this supply is met for the manufacturing of fuel elements of the present and future NPPs.

The technology applied for the enrichment process is gaseous diffusion and at present the consolidation of this technology is under development.

Simultaneously, research is carried out for laser and ultra centrifuge enrichment.

Fuel Fabrication

The factory of Special Alloys, FAE SA, is in charge of manufacturing Zircaloy rods and pellets used in the manufacturing of fuel elements coming from imported zirconium. The technology applied was developed in CNEA and is permanently updated. The fabrication of stainless steel alloys and titanium is undertaken, as well as the development of products of incalloy used as supplies in different components of NPPs.

Fuel elements fabrication is performed in CONUAR SA where UO2 pellets are fabricated and the assembly of fuel elements for NPPs CNA I and CNE, and fuels type MTR for research reactor RA-3.

Moreover, fuel elements will be manufactured for future NPPs in Argentina. At present the first core of CNA II is supplied with the design and technological support given by CNEA.

CNEA has a plant for the fabrication of fuel elements for Research Reactors (ECRI) made up of four areas: fabrication of compacts, fuel rods, assembly of fuel elements and quality control. The facility has as an objective to develop and fabricate the fuel elements for research reactors and irradiation blanks for the radioisotope production. Up to the present, its production has enabled to meet part of local demand and some international requirements (reactors exported to: Peru, Egypt, Algeria and Australia).

Temporary Storage of Spent Fuels:

Temporary storage of spent fuels is performed in situ in NPPs. In CNA I, fuels are stored in pools since there are two pools containing all spent fuels from the beginning of the operation of the NPP. In CNE, storage is initially performed in decaying pools in order to be transferred to dry silos after 5 or 6 years of storage in the same site of the NPP.

Temporary storage of fuels of research reactors is performed in different ways according to the reactor. Fuels of the RA-3reactor are stored in the Wet Interim Storage of Spent Fuels Deposit of Research Reactors located in the Management Area of Ezeiza (AGE) in CAE. Fuels from the RA-6reactor, located in Bariloche Atomic Centre, CAB, in Río Negro province, are temporarily stored in pools located in this facility/installation.

In order to gather the storage of every spent fuel element coming from research reactors, the Facility that stores irradiated fuels of research reactors (FACIRI) is under construction and will be located in Ezeiza Atomic Centre, CAE. Its objective is to replace the existent facility in AGE as a system improvement. It is a pool where fuels under water will be disposed in perfectly controlled conditions in a specially designed structure.

Reprocessing

CNEA is the company that conducts research on spent fuel reprocessing. At present, it counts with several licensed facilities or facilities about to be licensed that would enable to experience at a lab scale the feasibility of the reprocessing.

The following are some of the prominent facilities: the Lab for Postirradiation Assays (LAPEP), Hot Cells (CELCA) located in CAE and ALFA Lab located in CAC.

Radioactive Waste Management

Radioactive waste management is contemplated in laws of nuclear activity No. 24804 in which CNEA´s responsibilities are described. Subsection “d” states that CNEA has to “exert the responsibility for managing radioactive wastes by fulfilling the tasks assigned to the specific legislation” as long as in subsection “g” regulates that CNEA has to “exert the state property of special fissionable radioactive materials contained in irradiated fuel elements”. In article 16, ARN´s tasks are mentioned and its subsection “c”, licenses, permits or authorisations for facilities are granted for radioactive waste or waste management.

In Decree Nº 1390/98, regulatory of Law Nº 24801, the constitution of trust funds is determined for nuclear power plants that go out of service and for radioactive waste management, of medium and high activity, that has been produced. It is also determined that these funds must be constituted with contributions by the generators of nuclear electricity.

Law No. 25018 establishes the “National Programme of Radioactive Waste Management” (PNGRR) that states that CNEA is in charge of enforcing the law and creates the “Fund for the Final Disposal and Management of Radioactive Wastes”. This fund replaces the one established by Decree No. 1390/98. It also establishes that a Radioactive Waste Management Strategic Plan has to be elaborated and a Regime for the administration of the fund has to be approved by the National Congress by law.

CNEA has already created the PEGRR project on the basis of taxes of the incomes of the electronuclear generation and the project was transferred to the National Congress in 2009 by the Executive Power for its approval. Likewise, a bill is under elaboration in order to administer the Fund.

As regards wastes produced by uranium mining, a Programme on Environmental Restitution of the Uranium Mining is under development (PRAMU) and its objective is to achieve the environmental restitution of those sites where activities related to uranium mining were developed. Sites where the programme is applied are the following: Malargüe and Huemul (Mendoza Province), Córdoba and Los Gigantes (Córdoba Province), Pichiñán (Chubut Province), Tonco (Salta Province), La Estela (San Luis Province) and Los Colorados (La Rioja Province).

In the beginning, the restitution project will be financed with a loan from the World Bank applicable to the sites of: Malargüe, whose tasks are under development, Los Gigantes, Córdoba and Tonco. However, independently of the loan, different tasks of the project are carried out with CNEA´s financial means.

PRAMU intends to create an Advisory Group of Environmental Mining Restitution of as a long term objective, derived from the project management. This group would be conformed and linked to the National Secretary of the Environment and the National Secretary of Mining in related projects.

Policy for the Final Disposition of High Level Waste

The Argentine Republic has adopted a classification criteria based on activity levels by achieving the confinement and isolation required in each case.

As regards the final disposal of high level radioactive waste, during the eighties, CNEA began a feasibility study and engineering draft for the construction of a deep geological repository. Stable granite formations were looked for in low seismic regions with scarce hydraulic conductivity. One of the possible options was the town of Gastre, province of Chubut, and studies to characterise the place were performed. The report with the obtained results was duly handed in to the National Congress. Subsequently, as a consequence of the public opinion, studies were suspended in that locality, and thus it was not possible to prospect other favourable regions in the rest of the country.

Some developments for the high level radioactive waste treatment are focused on the research on the technical and economic feasibility in order to convert (transmute) radionuclides of the long decay period into others of short period or stable nuclides. Argentina, under the technical supervision of CNEA, counts with the developments in this field since in case this option is feasible; it would enable the reduction of the inventory of long term radionuclides but would not eliminate the need for a repository.

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/legislacion/nacional/LEYACTIVIDADNUCLEAR.pdf

AUTORIDAD REGULATORIA NUCLEAR (Nuclear Regulatory Authority). http://www.arn.gov.ar/.

NUCLEOELECTRICA ARGENTINA S.A. http://www.na-sa.com.ar/.

NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY. “Uranium 2007. Resources, Production and Demand”. http://www.nea.fr/,

CALYPSO URANIUM S.A. http://www.calypsouranium.com/sp/home.asp,

JACKSON GLOBAL LTD. http://www.jacksonglobal.com.ar/,

URANIO AG http://www.uranio.ch/english//,

WEALTH MINERALS LTD. http://www.wealthminerals.com/s/Home.asp,

MARIFIL MINES LTD. http://www.marifilmines.com/s/Home.asp,

MADERO MINERALS S.A.

http://argentina.infomine.com/companies/listings/27366/MADERO_MINERALS_S.A.html,

GLOBE URANIUM ARGENTINA S.A.

http://argentina.infomine.com/companies/listings/28530/GLOBE_URANIUM_(ARGENTINA)_S.A.html,

MEGA URANIUM LTD. http://www.megauranium.com/main/?argentina,

EPSE http://www.epsesanjuan.com.ar/,

DIOXITEK S.A. http://www.dioxitek.com.ar/,

CONUAR S.A. http://www.conuar.com.ar/home.htm,

FAE S.A. http://www.fae.com.ar/.

2.8 Research and development

2.8.1 R&D Organizations

CNEA is a national institution oriented towards conducting research and developments in every aspect related to the pacific uses of nuclear energy. Thus, CNEA fosters technological innovative activities in the nuclear areas and consequently performs development and transference activities of new technologies in related areas.

As the referent of its sector, CNEA has established the technological support in the Argentine nuclear system as one of its main aims. Its final aim is to improve the life quality of the society through the contribution of science and technology since they improve production; reduce the environmental impact that every human activity produces in the environment; look for innovations and application of derived techniques and train employees.

Most of production activities, which were formerly performed by CNEA, are at present handled by private companies with the exception of radioisotope production and equipment development and/or specific facilities.

Most of CNEA facilities are located in the following sites:

In the Atomic Centres and Complexes projects are developed and administered on research, development, technology transfer and technical support in the technological field of CNEA.

Moreover, CNEA counts at present with four Regional Offices: Northwest, Cuyo, Centre and Patagonia whose mission is to carry out the exploration and prospecting of mineral resources of nuclear interests, particularly uranium minerals in the jurisdictional area of each area

CNEA provides an outstanding scientific and technological training in order to conduct technological nuclear activities both for Argentina and abroad. An academic offer of CNEA´s the educational institutions exists, where graduate courses are given as well as PhDs, postgraduate courses and undergraduate courses. These courses provide education for specialists in different domains, such as: physics, engineering, nuclear applications, science and technology of materials. The educational centres are the following ones:

SOURCES:

CONSTITUYENTE ATOMIC CENTRE. http://www.cnea.gov.ar/cac/,

EZEIZA ATOMIC CENTRE. http://caebis.cnea.gov.ar/,

BARILOCHE ATOMIC CENTRE. http://www.cab.cnea.gov.ar/,

BALSEIRO INSTITUTE. http://www.ib.edu.ar/,

JORGE SABATO TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. http://www.isabato.edu.ar/,

DAN BENINSON NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. http://www.cnea.gov.ar/institutobeninson/,

NUCLEAR MEDICINE FOUNDATION SCHOOL. http://www.fuesmen.edu.ar/,

NUCLEAR DIAGNOSTIC FOUNDATION CENTRE. http://www.fcdn.org.ar/.

Facilities:

Research reactors and operative production reactors in Argentina are the following:

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY.

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/reactores/RA0_RA4.asp

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/reactores/RA1.asp

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/reactores/RA3.asp http://www.cab.cnea.gov.ar/cab/ingNuclear/ra6_i.html

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/reactores/RA8.asp.

There are relevant facilities with different purposes as well as labs in different sites of CNEA which are listed as follows:

CAB:

Linear Electron Accelerator used for investigation and teaching purposes.

Lab of Activation Analysis

Lab of Atomic Collisions

Lab of Metal Physics

Lab of Statistic Physics

Lab of Particles and Fields

Lab of Magnetic Resonance

Lab of Material Characterisation

Lab of Special Ceramics

Lab of Material Physicochemical

Lab of Nuclear Materials

Lab of Computer Mechanics

Lab of Metallurgy

Lab of New Materials and Devices

Lab of Process Control

Lab of Fuel Element Design

Lab of Physics of Advanced Reactors

Lab of Neutrons and Reactors

Lab of Nuclear Safety

Lab of Thermo hydraulics

Lab of Analysis by Neutron Activation

Lab of Radiological Protection

Lab of Chemical Cynetics

Lab of Electronic Developments

Lab SIGMA

Lab of Isotopic Separation

CAC:

TANDAR Electrostatic Accelerator

Fuel Elements Fabrication Plant for Research Reactors (ECRI)

Plant of Uranium Hexafluoride conversion to Uranium Oxide

ALFA Lab

Ceramic Core NPP

Analytic Chemistry Lab

Nuclear Chemistry Lab

Environmental Monitoring Lab (air management)

Lab of Colloids

Lab of Water and other Fluids

Lab of Structural Material Characterization

Lab of Condensed Matter

Lab of Cells and Solar Panels

Lab of Uranium Dioxide Characterization

Lab of Diffusion

Lab of Dosimeter Irradiation

Lab of Non Destructive Assays

Lab of Experimental Physics of Reactors

Lab Radar Dish of Synthetic Opening

Circuit of hydrodynamic assays of fuel elements

CAE:

Cyclotron for Radioisotope Production: production of radiodrug 18 fluoride dioxide glucose (18-FDG) for the local market supply.

Molybdenum-99 Fission Production NPP: radioisotope iodine 131 for the supply of the local market with an exporting capacity. The molybdenum 99, with a capacity to meet the local market demand and export.

Radioisotope Production NPP: conditioning and fractioning of radioisotopes iodine-131 and molybdenum 99 and phosphorus 32production, chromium 51 and samarium 153 as well as the marked compound hafnium 181.

Semi industrial plant of Irradiation: it provides advisory services and food irradiation and disposable biomedical material for institutional external and internal clients.

Lab of head

Lab of enriched uranium

Management Area of Radioactive Wastes: Treatment Plant of Low Level Solid Radioactive Wastes, Contention System of Low Level Solid Radioactive Wastes, facility for Solid Disposal Radioactive Wastes, Structural and Canned Sources and the deposit Central of Special Irradiated Fissionable Material.

Radiochemical Facility Lab (LFR)

Postirradiation Assay Lab (LAPEP)

Detector Physic Lab

Lab of Analysis by Activation

Lab of radiotracers application

Regional Reference centre of Secondary Patrons

Methodology Lab of Radioisotopes Applications

Lab of radiopharmacy

Lab of High Pressure and Temperature (LENAP)

Lab of High Doses Dosimeter

Lab of Handling/Management and Conservation of soils

Lab of Microbiology

Lab of Industrial Applications

In the CAE site, industrial plants of two CNEA associated companies are located: Argentine Nuclear Fuels SA (CONUAR SA) and Special Alloy Factory SA (FAE SA). Moreover, DIOXITEK SA operates the cobalt-60 Sealed Source Fabrication Plant meeting local demand and exporting sources with the highest quality standards thus converting Argentina into the third exporter of sealed sources.

CTP:

Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Plant

The Enrichment Uranium “Mock up” Pilot Plant (by gaseous diffusion)

Labs for CAREM Reactor Development

Porous Membranes Fabrication Plant

Fluorides Oils Fabrication Plant

Fluoride Production Plant

Analytical Chemistry Lab

The associated companies from which CNEA owns part of the stock are as follows:

SOURCE: DIOXITEK S.A. http://www.dioxitek.com.ar/,

CONUAR S.A. http://www.conuar.com.ar/home.htm,

FAE S.A. http://www.fae.com.ar/,

ENSI S.E. http://www.ensi.com.ar/,

POLO TECNOLÓGICO CONSTITUYENTES S.A. http://www.ptconstituyentes.com.ar/,

FUNDACIÓN CENTRO DE DIAGNÓSTICO NUCLEAR. http://www.fcdn.org.ar/.

The following are the companies and institutions related to CNEA:

SOURCE: INVAP S.E. http://www.invap.com.ar/,

FUESMEN http://www.fmv-uba.org.ar/comunidad/INA/Medicina_Nuclear.htm,

INSTITUTO DE ONCOLOGÍA http://www.institutoroffo.com.ar/.

2.8.2 Development of advanced nuclear technologies

CNEA has organized its research and technological activities of scientific development in different fields. These activities involve advanced projects related to the nuclear activity and its applications, some of which are worth mentioning:

SOURCE: NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY http://www.cnea.gov.ar.

2.8.3 International Cooperation and Initiatives.

The scope of international cooperation in the area of nuclear energy development and its application is very wide between the main entities that act in the Argentine nuclear sector and in the foreign and international companies, governments and organizations. That cooperation is mainly promoted an IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).

Specific links between the CNEA and the foreign associates exist in a wide scope of Research and Development activities, from basic studies and development with the institutions of the first world.

On the other end, NA-SA has a special collaboration agreement with the Brazilian company Eletronuclear, sharing Brazilian and Argentine labor during the stops at the nuclear stations in Brazil and Argentina, as well as other issues of interest for both countries.

There are also special links with Latin American countries promoted in part by the OIEA through the Latin American Project Area, denominated the ARCAL projects.

Every year, CNEA has received an important number of foreign students and professionals, mainly from Latin American countries, Africa and Asia, especially by agreement of scholarships awarded by the IAEA, for training in a large number of areas.

In the context of its regulating task, the ARN has a close and varied interaction with national and foreign, governmental and non governmental, organizations, as well as with international organizations. This interaction has the following objectives:

2.9 Human Resources Development

The training and coaching of young professionals and technicians has always been a permanent activity of CNEA. The Institution has more than forty years of experience in this area, and an important scholarship system that supports the activity, that involves two main types of scholarships: stimulus subsidies for academic instruction and improvement scholarships for “training on the job”, that constitute the “Learning by Doing Program”.

In the course of the years this Program has evidenced to be not only an educational tool, but also an efficient selection instrument, and a loyalty and commitment generation possibility with nuclear activity for the scholar.

The main guidance concepts of the development policy of acknowledgement and skills at CNEA involve a solid basic education, associated to an intense learning process, by means of the insertion in projects, acting under the guidance of experienced professionals and technicians.

For the development of the intellectual capital and knowledge there are several institutions and venues:

These institutes and facilities provide education for professionals and technicians for the Argentine nuclear sector activities, offering training to CNEA, ARN and NA-SA, as well as educational services on specific issues for the Latin American region and for the world.

And, from time to time, according to their needs, NA-SA organizes specific training activities for the new staff at different levels of responsibility and specialization, as well as complementary activities for the permanent staff. This includes short courses for different operative and maintenance functions, specific training in partial scope simulators and regular yearly education and re-training in the total scope simulators.

Due to the requirements associated to the termination and start up of the CNA II NPP, NA-SA opened a welder school specialized in nuclear quality, on the premises of the power plant.

On the other hand, the ARN maintains permanent control on the nuclear activities related to the training of the staff for the award of installation operation licenses, organizing and performing the examinations for the official candidates to obtain or renew licenses or specific authorizations. As complement of these activities, the ARN also performs a yearly teaching program as post graduate level in radiological protection and nuclear security areas.

SOURCE: NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION http://www.cnea.gov.ar/,

NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY. http://www.arn.gov.ar/,

NA-SA NUCLEOELECTRICA ARGENTINA S.A. http://www.na-sa.com.ar/,

2.10. Stakeholder Communication

With the reactivation of the nuclear activity in the country, the imperious need to create communication strategies has arisen in order to offer society the necessary information on nuclear activity, underlining its permanent contribution to the well being and development of the country.

In this sense long term strategies are being prepared and put into practice, within the frame of the development of the Strategic Planning of the National Atomic Energy Commission, in order to reach the political, corporate, professional, teaching, journalism levels, and in general, of opinion leaders, in order to achieve mass and effective circulation of the benefits of the pacific applications of nuclear energy, in the area of energy as well as in health care, and applications in the industry and agriculture.

During several years specific communication programs are in execution within this framework, with reference to the management of radioactive waste and spent fuels, and the environmental restitution of the sites where in the past uranium mining related activities have been performed.

As part of the mentioned effort, a Technical Cooperation Project with IAEA is under development, which involves assistance in the definition of a Communication Plan, communicator training, and a series of activities.

SOURCE: NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION http://www.cnea.gov.ar/,

3 NATIONAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS

3.1 Regulatory framework

3.1.1 Regulatory Authority(s)

CNEA was created by Decree Nº 10936 in the year 1950. One of its specific functions defined was the control the nuclear development activities in the country.

Later, different legal regulations determined the competence of the CNEA as Regulatory Authority in the area of radiological and nuclear safety, especially in the aspects concerning the protection of individuals and the environment with respect to the adverse effects of ionizing radiations, the safety of nuclear facilities and the control of the use of nuclear materials. The main legal regulations corresponding to these aspects are Decree Law Nº 22498 of the year 1956 (“Organization of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), the Application Authority”) ratified by Law Nº 14467 of the year 1958 (“Ratification Law of Decree Laws of the provisional government between September 23rd. 1955 and April 30th.1958”) and Decree Nº 842/58.

The above mentioned Decree-Law also determined the competence of CNEA to issue the necessary regulatory standards and the requirements for the permanent vigilance of the activities related to radioactive materials, and to supply the means of control that are necessary for the existence, marketing and use of the materials related with the pacific uses of nuclear energy.

On the other hand, Decree Nº 842/58 approved and placed the “Regulation for the use of Radioisotopes and Ionizing Radiation” in force, with the object to regulate the uses and applications of radioactive materials and the radiations they emit or emitted by nuclear reactions and transmutations, clearly determining that the CNEA would control the application and sanctions of those regulations. The use and regulation of X-ray generators was excluded from the competence of that standard, belonging exclusively to the area of the Ministry of Health.

As consequence of the constant increase of the nuclear activities in the country, the functional independence of the regulatory branch has strengthened with respect to other activities of the CNEA.

Based on the above considerations, the Executive Power, with Decree Nº 1540/94 has reorganized the Argentine nuclear system creating the “National Nuclear Regulation Entity”, and it was constituted as a regulatory authority in radiological and nuclear safety, safeguards and physical protection in the whole national territory, performing all the regulation and control functions of the nuclear activity that until then belonged to the regulatory branch of CNEA.

In 1997 Law Nº 24804 was enacted (“National Law of Nuclear Activity. Functions. Regulation Criterion”), determining the creation of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) in charge of the regulation and control activities concerning nuclear and radiological safety, safeguards and physical protection, as well as the consulting function for the executive power on issues of its competence.

ARN, as self-sufficient entity dependant from the Presidency of the Nation, has all the legal power to act in the areas of public and private law, as successor of the regulatory branch of the CNEA and the National Nuclear Regulation Entity.

3.1.2 Licensing Process

The regulatory system considers licenses for the construction, start up, operation and final closing of nuclear facilities. This system determines the conditions that the licensee must comply in each stage.

With reference to the licensing of facilities, the ARN must approve the permission to start construction, and therefore it must demonstrate that the facility will not cause damage to the public or to the environment, backed by the due documentation. Therefore a prior Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) must be carried out subject to the national legislation.

The complete process of the EIE comprises the following essential steps:

Figure 3.1 describes the stages of the performance and approval process of the EIE.

Figure 3.1: Stages of the environmental impact evaluation in Argentina.

Once the environmental license has been obtained, the EIE is delivered to the ARN with the object to begin the proceedings to obtain the construction license. The EIE contains great part of the information required by the ARN to authorize the construction license.

The construction license is issued once the compliance with the standards and requirements for the site, basic design and conditions expected for the operation prior to start up have been verified. The applicable standards, in total coincidence with the international recommendations, determine the security criteria to be complied by the design of the facility and define the chronograms and type of mandatory documentation that must be presented together with the license application (Standard AR 3.7.1).

Specifically, nuclear power plants must comply with the radiological criteria relative to accidents (Standard AR 3.1.3). Once the construction license is requested, a constant interaction between the constructor or operator of the future facility and the ARN begins, constituting an interactive process. Likewise, as from the beginning of the construction, the capacities of the licensee to fulfil his responsibilities are evaluated.

The start up license determines the conditions for the loading of fuel and moderator, operation with power increase up to the nominal value, as well as the verification and testing of the components, equipment and systems to determine if they comply with the design principles. In order to comply with the license, the licensee must appoint a start up committee ad hoc constituted by senior specialists that permanently evaluate the execution of the start up program recommending its continuation (Standards AR 3.7.1, AR 3.8.1. and AR 3.8.2).

The operation license is issued once the ARN verifies that all conditions, standards and specific requirements applicable to the facility have been complied. The conclusion is the result of the analysis of the technical documentation and studies that have been forwarded, as well as of the results of the inspections performed during the construction and start up and the recommendations of the ad hoc start up committee. The operation license is a document by which the ARN authorizes the business operation of a nuclear facility under the stipulated conditions that must be complied by the licensee (Standard AR 3.9.1). The non compliance of any of the imposed requirements without the corresponding authorization by the ARN implies the application of sanctions that may conduct to the suspension or cancellation of the operation license.

At the end of the useful life of the facility and by requirement of the licensee, the ARN authorizes the ending of the business operation of the nuclear power plant and issues a dismantling license. This document determines the safe dismantling conditions of the facilities, and the licensee will be in charge of the planning and provision of the necessary means for its compliance.

The licensing process for nuclear power plants is shown in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2: Licensing process for nuclear power plants in Argentina

SOURCE: NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION http://www.cnea.gov.ar/,

NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY. http://www.arn.gov.ar/.

3.2. Main National Laws and Regulations in Nuclear Power.

The Argentine legal and regulatory system contemplates different aspects from the ratification of international treaties for the pacific use of nuclear energy to the different standards for the regulation and vigilance of the nuclear activity in the country.

Bilateral treaties and agreements for the pacific use of nuclear energy:

In 1991 in the city of Guadalajara, a bilateral agreement was signed between the Argentine Republic and the Federative Republic of Brazil, for the exclusive pacific use of nuclear energy. In virtue of this agreement an agency was created “Brazilian – Argentine Accounting and Control Agency of nuclear material” (ABACC – Agencia Brasilero – Argentina de Contabilidad y Control de material nuclear), and its essential objective is the implementation of a Common System for the Accounting and Control of nuclear material, with the object to ensure that the material is not used to manufacture nuclear weapons or other nuclear devices.

Once the Agency is created, the signature of the Agreement was executed between: Brazil, Argentina, the IAEA and the ABACC (four-partite agreement) to consolidate the application system of safeguards presently in force in both countries.

Tlatelolco Treaty: Treaty for the Ban of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. Argentina adhered to this international treaty and, in this manner, committed to use the material and nuclear facilities under its jurisdiction exclusively for peaceful objectives, and to forbid and impede the use, manufacturing, production, possession and dominion of all nuclear weapons in their respective territories, as well as the participation, in any manner, in this type of activity.

Non-Proliferation Treaty of Nuclear Weapons: Argentina is one of the signatories of the treaty in which it relinquishes the use of nuclear weapons.

SOURCE: NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/legislacion/internacional/24272f.pdf,

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/legislacion/internacional/24448.pdf,

BRAZILIAN ARGENTINE ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL AGENCY OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL (AGENCIA BRASILERO – ARGENTINA DE CONTABILIDAD Y CONTROL DE MATERIAL NUCLEAR). http://www.abacc.org/home.htm.

Main National Laws:

Law Nº 1919

Mining Code. Approval.

Enacted: November 25th. 1886.

Decree/ Law Nº 6673

Patents and Trademarks – Model or Industrial Design. Regulatory Standards.

Enacted: August 9th. 1963.

Law Nº 17048

Nuclear Damage. Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage.

Approved by the International Conference on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, held in Vienna, Republic of Austria in 1963 (amended and complemented by a Protocol and Complementary Convention approved by Law 25.313).

Enacted and promulgated: December 2nd.1966.

Law Nº 21947

Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters, open for signature on December 29th. 1972 in London, Mexico, Moscow and Washington.

Enacted and promulgated: March 6th. 1979.

Law Nº 22455

Convention related to Civil Liability within the sphere of nuclear materials sea transport, signed in Brussels, Belgium, on December 17th. 1971.

Enacted and promulgated: March 27th.1981.

Law Nº 22507

Treaty concerning the Prohibition of Placing Nuclear Weapons and other Weapons of Massive Destruction on Sea and Ocean beds, and Underground beds, signed in London, Moscow and Washington on February 11th. 1971

Enacted and promulgated: October 7th.1981.

Law Nº 23340

Nuclear Energy: Nuclear Weapons Test-Ban

Treaty on Nuclear Weapons Test-Ban in the Atmosphere, in the Outer Space and in Submarine Waters, concluded in the City of Moscow on August 3rd. 1963.

Enacted: July 30th. 1986.

Promulgated: August 19th. 1986.

Law Nº 23620

Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials.

Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, signed in Vienna, Republic of Austria, on March 3rd.1980.

Enacted: September 28th. 1988.

Promulgated: October 20th. 1988.

Law Nº 23731

Nuclear Accidents or Radiological Emergency.

Conventions on the Immediate Notification of Nuclear Accidents and Assistance in case of Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, approved by the General Conference of the International Institution of Atomic Energy, in Vienna, Republic of Austria, on September 26th. 1986.

Enacted: September 13th. 1989.

Promulgated: October 6th.1989.

Decree Nº 603/1992

Nuclear Exports. Control System.

Control system of sensitive exports and military material. Constitutes the National Commission for the Control of Sensitive Exports and War Material.

Published in the Official Bulletin on April 14th. 1992.

Amended by Decrees Nº 1291/1993, 102/2000, 437/2000.

Law Nº 24272

Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Treaty..

Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, adopted in Mexico on February 14th. 1967, with the amendments introduced on July 3rd 1990, May 10th. 1991 and August 26th. 1992 (Tlatelolco Treaty)

Enacted: November 10th.1993.

Promulgated: December 7th. 1993 (Application Art. 70, National Constitution).

Decree Nº 1540/94

Atomic Energy. Reorganization of the National Entity.

Reorganization of the National Atomic Energy Commission. Creation of the “Ente Nacional Regulador Nuclear y Constitución de la Sociedad Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A” Privatization Process.

Enacted: August 30th.1994.

Published in the Official Bulletin on September 2nd. 1994.

Law Nº 24448

Nuclear Weapons.

Treaty on Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, open for signature in London, Washington and Moscow on July 1st. 1968 (TNP)

Enacted: December 23rd.1994.

Promulgated: January 13th. 1995.

Law Nº 24776

Nuclear Safety.

Convention on Nuclear Safety adopted in Vienna, Republic of Austria, on September 20th. 1994.

Enacted: February 19th. 1997.

Promulgated: April 4th. 1997 (Application Art. 80, National Constitution).

Law Nº 24804

National Law on Nuclear Activity. Functions. Regulation Criteria.

Enacted: April 2nd. 1997.

Promulgated in part: April 23rd.1997.

Law Nº 25018

Radioactive Waste Management System. General Dispositions.

Enacted: September 23rd. 1998.

Promulgated: October 19th. 1998.

Law Nº 25022

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban.

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, accepted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, United States of America, on September 10th. 1996.

Enacted: September 23rd. 1998.

Promulgated: October 20th.1998.

Decree Nº 1390/98

Regulation of the National Law of Nuclear Activity Nº 24804.

Enacted: November 27th.1998.

Law Nº 25279

Safety in Radioactive Waste and Fuel.

Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, adopted in Vienna, Republic of Austria, on September 5th. 1997.

Enacted: July 6th. 2000.

Promulgated: July 31st.2000 (Application Art. 80, National Constitution).

Law Nº 25313

Nuclear Damages.

Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damages, adopted in Vienna, Republic of Austria, on September 12th. 1997. (Modifies and complements the Vienna Convention approved by Law Nº 17048).

Enacted: September 7th.2000.

Promulgated: October 6th. 2000 (Application of Art. 80, National Constitution).

Law Nº 25675

National Environmental Policy. Minimum Budget for Sustainable Management.

Minimum budgets in order to achieve sustainable and adequate environmental management, the preservation and protection of the biological diversity and the implementation of sustainable development. Principles of environmental policy. Minimum budget. Judicial competence. Policy and management instruments. Environmental order. Evaluation of the environmental impact. Education and information. Citizen participation. Environmental insurance and restoration fund. Federal environmental system. Ratification of federal agreements. Self-management. Environmental damage. Environmental compensation fund.

Enacted: November 27th. 2002.

Published: Official Bulletin of the Argentine Republic, November 28th. 2002.

Law Nº 25842

Agreements. Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology.

Cooperation Agreement for the promotion of nuclear science and technology in Latin America and the Caribbean, adopted by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Organization in Vienna, on September 25th. 1998.

Enacted: November 26th. 2003.

Promulgated: January 9th.2004.

Published: Official Bulletin of the Argentine Republic, January 15th. 2004.

Law Nº 25837

Agreements. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

Agreement on the performance of activities related with international vigilance facilities at the service of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, signed with the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the Preparatory Commission of the Organization for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, on December 9th. 1999, in Vienna, Republic of Austria.

Enacted: November 26th. 2003.

Promulgated: February 19th. 2001.

Published: Official Bulletin of the Argentine Republic, February 20th. 2004.

Ley Nº 26566

Nuclear Activity.

Declaration of national interest of the activities in order to extend the life of the CNE and CNA I, the completion of the construction, start-up and operation of CNA II, the construction and start up of a fourth power plant of one or two nuclear source energy modules and the construction and execution of the CAREM project.

Enacted: November 25th. 2009.

Effectively promulgated: December 17th. 2009.

SOURCE: NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION. http://www.cnea.gov.ar/,

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SECRETARIAT OF THE NATION. http://www.ambiente.gov.ar/?aplicacion=normativa&IdNorma=85&IdSeccion=0,

LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION. http://www.infoleg.gov.ar/,

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

http://www.inpi.gov.ar/pdf/Leymodelosentera.pdf y http://www.inpi.gov.ar/pdf/LeyesTransferenciaTec.pdf.

Nuclear Regulatory Standards – Nuclear Regulatory Authority

AR 0.0.1.

Licensing of Class I facilities.

AR 0.11.1.

Licensing of Class I facility staff.

AR 0.11.2.

Psychophysical capacity requirements for specific authorizations.

AR 0.11.3.

Re-training of Class I facilities staff.

AR 2.12.1.

Radiological safety criteria for the management of radioactive waste from mining manufacturing facilities.

AR 3.1.1.

Occupational exposure to nuclear power reactors..

AR 3.1.2.

Limitation of radioactive effluents in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.1.3.

Radiological criteria with reference to accidents in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.2.1.

General safety criteria for the design of nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.2.3.

Fire safety in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.3.1.

Design of the core of nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.3.2.

Heat removal systems in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.3.3.

Primary pressure circuit in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.3.4.

Safety in combustible elements for nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.4.1.

Protection and instrumentation system related to the safety of nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.4.2.

Extinction systems for nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.4.3.

Confinement system in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.5.1.

Essential electrical supply in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.6.1.

Quality system in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.7.1.

Schedule for the presentation of documents prior to the commercial operation of a nuclear power reactor.

AR 3.8.1.

Preliminary tests and start up of nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.9.1.

General safety criteria for the operation of nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.9.2.

Communication of relevant events in nuclear power reactors.

AR 3.10.1.

Protection against earthquakes in nuclear power reactors. Under revision process, taking into account the “state of the art”. And, the following standards are under analysis process:

AR 3.10.2

“General safety criteria for the location”.

AR 3.10.3

“Safety criteria for the evaluation of external events”.

AR 3.10.4

“Criteria for the determination of potential effects of a nuclear power plant in the region”.

AR 3.17.1.

Dismantling of nuclear power reactors

AR 4.1.1.

Occupational exposure in research nuclear reactors.

AR 4.1.2.

Radioactive effluent limitation in research nuclear reactors.

AR 4.1.3.

Radiological criteria relative to accidents in research reactors.

AR 4.2.1.

Design of critical compounds.

AR 4.2.2.

Design of research reactors.

AR 4.2.3.

Fire safety in research reactors.

AR 4.5.1.

Design in the electric energy supply system in research reactors.

AR 4.7.1.

Schedule for the presentation of documents prior to the operation of a research reactor.

AR 4.7.2.

Schedule for the presentation of documents prior to the operation of a critical compound.

AR 4.8.1.

Preliminary tests and start up of critical component.

AR 4.8.2.

Preliminary tests and start up of research reactors.

AR 4.9.1.

Operation of critical component Revision 1.

AR 4. 9.2.

Operation of nuclear research reactors.

AR 5.1.1.

Occupational exposure in Class I particle accelerators.

AR 5.7.1.

Schedule for the presentation of documents prior to the operation of a particle accelerator.

AR 6.1.1.

Occupational exposure of Class I radioactive facilities.

AR 6.1.2.

Limitation of radioactive effluents in Class I radioactive facilities.

AR 6.2.1.

Design of fixed irradiation plants with mobile under water irradiation sources.

AR 6.7.1.

Schedule for the presentation of documents prior to the operation of an industrial irradiation plant.

AR 6.9.1.

Operation of fixed irradiation plants with mobile under water irradiation sources.

AR 7.9.1.

Industrial gammagraphy equipment operation.

AR 7.9.2.

Operation of radiation sources for industrial applications.

AR 7.11.1.

Individual permits for industrial gammagraphy equipment operators.

AR 7.11.2.

Individual permits for radiation sources operators for industrial application.

AR 8.2.1.

Use of sealed sources in brachytherapy.

AR 8.2.2.

Operation of linear accelerators for medical use.

AR 8.2.3.

Telecobaltotherapy facility operation.

AR 8.2.4.

Use of non sealed radioactive sources in nuclear medicine facilities.

AR 8.11.1.

Individual permits for the use of radioactive material or ionizing radiations in humans.

AR 8.11.2.

Minimum clinical training requirements to obtain individual permits for medical use.

AR 8.11.3.

Individual permits for specialists and technicians in radiotherapy physics..

AR 10.1.1.

Basic Standard of Radiological Safety.

AR 10.12.1.

Radioactive Waste Management.

AR 10.13.1.

Physical protection standard for nuclear materials and facilities.

AR 10.13.2.

Physical safety standard for sealed sources.

AR 10.14.1.

Non deviation guarantees of nuclear materials and materials, facilities and equipment of nuclear interest.

AR 10.16.1.

Transport of radioactive materials.

SOURCE: NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY. http://www.arn.gov.ar/ y http://200.0.198.11/normas/index.htm

List of Tables

TABLE 1. INFORMATION ON POPULATION 10

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) 11

TABLE 3. ESTIMATE AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES 13

TABLE 4. ENERGETIC STATISTICS (Exa-Joule [EJ]) 14

TABLE 1.1: TRANSPORT COMPANIES OF ENERGY, VOLTAGE AND

EXTENSION OF THE ELECTRIC TRANSPORT LINES 26

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY 27

TABLE 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS 28

TABLE 7. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS 42

TABLE 8. PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS 47

List of Figures

FIGURE 1.1: POLITICAL DIVISION OF ARGENTINA. 1

FIGURE 1.2: TYPES OF CLIMATE IN ARGENTINA. 4

FIGURE 1.3: AVERAGE, MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM,

ANNUAL TEMPERATURES. 5

FIGURE 1.4: SEASONAL AVERAGE RAINFALL 6

FIGURE 1.5: LOCAL WINDS IN ARGENTINA. 7

FIGURE 1.6: TOTAL AND GROWTH RATE OF THE POPULATION. 9

FIGURE 1.7: POPULATION DISTRIBUTION. 9

FIGURE 1.8: COMPOSITION OF THE PRIMARY

ENERGY SOURCES 1960 – 2005. 12

FIGURE 1.9: GENERATION CAPACITY TO BE INCORPORATED

UNTIL THE YEAR 2005 TENDENCY SCENARIO. 19

FIGURE 1.10: GENERATION CAPACITY TO BE INCORPORATED

UNTIL THE YEAR 2005 STRUCTURAL SCENARIO. 19

FIGURE 1.11: ENERGETIC CONTRIBUTION OF EACH SOURCE,

TENDENCY SCENARIO. 20

FIGURE 1.12: ENERGETIC CONTRIBUTION OF EACH SOURCE,

STRUCTURAL SCENARIO. 20

FIGURE 1.13: ENERGETIC CONTRIBUTION OF

EACH SOURCE, YEAR 2025, TENDENCY SCENARIO. 21

FIGURE 1.14: ENERGETIC CONTRIBUTION OF EACH SOURCE,

YEAR 2025, STRUCTURAL SCENARIO. 21

FIGURE 1.15: SCHEDULE OF POWER GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES. 23

FIGURE 1.16: LINES OF 500 kV, 300 kV AND 132 kV . 25

FIGURE 2.1: ORGANIZATION CHART OF THE NATIONAL

NUCLEAR ACTIVITY. 36

FIGURE 2.2: CASH FLOW OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY. 38

FIGURE 2.3: TECHNICAL AND SUPPLY LINKS OF THE

NUCLEAR SECTOR. 41

FIGURE 2.4: LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

OF THE POWER PLANTS UNDER OPERATION 41

FIGURE 2.5: LOCATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

OF THE POWER PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION. 42

FIGURE 2.6: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POTENTIAL LOCATION

SITES. 55

FIGURE 2.7: LOCATION OF THE POTENTIAL SITES. 56

FIGURE 3.1: STAGES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL

IMPACT EVALUATION IN ARGENTINA. 75

FIGURE 3.2: LICENSING PROCESS FOR NUCLEAR

POWER PLANTS IN ARGENTINA. 76

APPENDIX 1: INTERNATIONAL, BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL AGREEMENTS

The National Commission of Atomic Energy has entered into International agreements on the nuclear area both with other entities and with other countries.

TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS ON NON PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Treaties and Multilateral Agreements

Bilateral Agreements

Agreements with IAEA

CONVENTIONS AND REGULATORY AGREEMENTS OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY

International Conventions

COOPERATION AGREEMENTS

Multilateral Agreements

Bilateral Agreements

Cooperation Agreement on Pacific Uses of Nuclear Energy between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Armenia. Signed in Yerevan on June 30, 1998, it was approved by Law No. 25285, enacted on December 6, 2000 (Official Gazette 13/XII/00) and entered into force on September 7, 2001. Its initial duration is of five years and it is automatically renewed by five-year successive periods.

Cooperation Agreement between the Argentine Republic and Australia on Pacific Uses of the Nuclear Energy. Signed in Melbourne on August 8, 2001, it was approved by Law No. 26014, enacted on January 10, 2005 (Official Gazette 14/I/05) and it entered into force on January 22, 2005. Its duration is unlimited.

Cooperation Agreement on the pacific uses of the nuclear energy between the Republic of Bolivia and the Argentine Republic. Signed in La Paz on March 19, 1970, it was approved by Law No. 18814, enacted on October 14, 1970 (Official Gazette 23/X/70) and entered into force on February 18, 1971. Its duration is unlimited.

Cooperation Agreement between the Argentine Republic and the Federative Republic of Brazil for the development and application of the pacific uses of nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on May 17, 1980, it entered into provisional force on that date. It was approved by Law N. 22494, enacted on September 10, 1981 (Official Gazette 16/XI/81) and ratified on October 20, 1983. Its initial duration was of ten years and it is automatically renewed by two-year periods.

Cooperation Protocol between the Argentine Republic and the Federative Republic of Brazil on the immediate notification and mutual assistance in case nuclear accidents and radiological emergencies should occur (Protocol No. 11 of the Argentine Brazilian Integration Minutes). Signed in Buenos Aires on July 29, 1986 and entered into force since that date. Its duration is unlimited.

Nuclear Cooperation Protocol (Protocol No. 17 of the Argentine Brazilian Integration Minutes). Signed in Brasilia on December 10, 1986, it entered into force since that date. Its duration is unlimited.

Agreement between the Argentine Republic and the Federative Republic of Brazil for the Exclusively Pacific Use of the Nuclear Energy (June 1991) (creation of the Argentine Brazilian Accountancy and Nuclear Material Control Agency, ABACC).

Agreement between the Argentine Republic and the Federative Republic of Brazil, IAEA and ABACC. It was signed on December 13, 1991. The signers accept the safeguard application to every nuclear material in every nuclear activity undertaken in both countries.

Joint Declaration concerning the creation of the Argentine Brazilian Nuclear Energy Application Agency (ABAEN), signed in Buenos Aires on August 14, 2001 coming into force on that date. Its duration is unlimited.

Joint Declaration on Nuclear Policy signed in Puerto Iguazú on November 30, 2005 coming into force on that date. Its duration is unlimited.

Additional Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement for the development and application of the pacific uses of the nuclear energy regarding reactors, nuclear fuels, radioisotopes and radiodrugs and radioactive waste management, signed in Puerto de Iguazú on November 30, 2005 coming into effect on that date. Its duration is unlimited.

Additional Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement for the development and application of pacific uses of nuclear energy in the regulatory and implementation areas between the Argentine Republic and the Federative Republic of Brazil, signed in Puerto Iguazú on November 30, 2005 and coming into force on that date. Its duration is unlimited.

Protocols of the Day of the Friendship. Signed on November 30, 2005 in Iguazú. It includes the following cooperation items:

  1. Joint Declaration on nuclear policy.

  2. Additional Protocol regarding reactors, nuclear fuels, radioisotope supply and radio drugs as well as radioactive waste management.

  3. Additional Protocol in the regulatory areas and the implementation for nuclear regulations.

Anniversary Joint Declaration ABACC. Signed in Buenos Aires on December 12, 2006.

Joint Declaration February 2008. Signed in Buenos Aires on February 22, 2008. It sets the creation of the Binational Commission on Nuclear Energy; trains agencies to create a binational uranium enrichment company and conducts a Technical Binational Seminar in both countries.

Cooperation agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria concerning pacific uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on August 1, 2000, it was approved by Law No. 25809, enacted on November 28, 2003 (Official Gazette 2/XII/03), exchange ratification notes are still pending. Its initial duration will be of five years, automatically renewed every five-year successive periods.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Canada for the cooperation on the pacific uses of nuclear energy. Signed in Ottawa on June 21, 1994, it was approved by Law No. 24646, enacted on June 26, 1996 (Official Gazette 28/VI/96) coming into force on that date. Its duration is of thirty years, it is automatically renewed by ten-year periods. (Substitutive of the Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Canada for the cooperation in the development and application of the atomic energy with pacific uses signed on January 30, 1976 coming into force on that date until the signed instrument entered into force in 1994).

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Chile and the Government of the Argentine Republic on cooperation in the pacific uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Santiago de Chile on November 13, 1976, it was approved by Law No. 22886, enacted on August 31, 1983 (Official Gazette 14/IX/83) and entering into force on September 1 of that year. Its initial duration was of five years and it was automatically renewed by annual successive periods.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the cooperation in pacific uses of nuclear energy. Signed in Beijing on April 15, 1985, it was approved by Law No. 23712, enacted on October 6, 1989 (Official Gazette 12/X/89) and entering into force on October 30 of that year. Its duration is of fifteen years and it is automatically renewed by five-year successive periods.

Cooperation Agreement in the pacific uses of nuclear energy between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of Colombia. Signed in Bogotá on September 15, 1967, it was approved by Law No. 19505, enacted on February 23, 1972 (Official Gazette 18/VII/72) coming into force on March 27 of that year. Its duration is unlimited.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Korea on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on September 9, 1996, it was approved by Law No. 24860, enacted on September 10, 1997 (Official Gazette 16/IX/97) and came into force on September 10, 1997. It is valid for 10 years and is automatically renewed every five years.

Memo of Understanding between the Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services of Argentina, and the Ministry of Economic Knowledge of the Republic of Korea, on Cooperation in Nuclear Energy. Signed in Seoul on September 16, 2010

Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica and the development and application of peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires, on June 18, 1992, it was approved by Law No. 24981, enacted on July 10, 1998 (Official Gazette 15/VII/98). Its initial duration is ten years, and it will be automatically renewed by two-year successive periods.

Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed on January 19, 2009.

Cooperation Agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the Government of Ecuador and the Government of the Argentine Republic. Signed in Buenos Aires on April 5, 1977, it was approved by Law No. 21896 enacted on October 30, 1978 (Official Gazette 03/XI/78) and entered into force on June 4, 1979. Its initial validity was of five years, and it was automatically renewed by annual successive periods.

Special Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Kingdom of Spain for the development and application of the peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on November 30, 1978, it entered into force on that date. Its initial validity was five years, automatically renewed by two-year successive periods.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the United States of America on the peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on February 29, 1996, it was approved by Law No. 24862, enacted on September 10, 1997 (Official Gazette 17/IX/97) and entered into force on October 16 of that year. Its duration is 30 years. (Substitute of the Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the United States of America on civil uses of nuclear energy signed on June 25, 1969 and into force as of July 25 of that year until the signed instrument entered into force in 1996).

Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of France for the use of nuclear energy for exclusively peaceful and non explosive purposes. Signed in Buenos Aires on April 21, 1994, it was approved by Law No. 24647, enacted on June 26, 1996 (Official Gazette 1/VII/96), and entered into force on July 10 of that year. Its duration lasts 10 years, automatically renewed by 10-year successive periods.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Hellenic Republic on the cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Signed in Athens on July 13, 1997, it was approved by Law No. 25286, enacted on December 6, 2000 (Official Gazette 13/XII/00) and entered into force on December 12, 2000. The duration is ten years. It shall be automatically renewed on a five-year basis.

Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Guatemala and the Government of the Argentine Republic for the development and the application of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Signed in Guatemala on May 14, 1986, it was approved by Law No. 24645, enacted on June 26, 1996 (Official Gazette 28/VI/96) and entered into force on March 5, 1997. This agreement was executed for a period of five years. It is automatically renewed on a two-year basis.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for the cooperation in the pacific uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on May 17, 1990, it was approved by Law No. 24161, enacted on October 26, 1992 (Official Gazette 02/XI/92), and entered into force on February 23, 1993. This Agreement is executed for a period of five years and it shall be automatically renewed on a yearly basis.

Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Government of the Argentine Republic on peaceful uses of atomic energy. Signed in Rabat on June 13, 1996, it was approved by Law No. 24980, enacted on July 10, 1998 (Official Gazette 15/VII/98), whose ratification notes have not been exchanged yet. It shall be initially executed for five years and automatically renewed on a yearly basis.

Cooperation Agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the Republic of Paraguay and the Argentine Republic. Signed in Buenos Aires on July 20, 1967, it was approved by Law No. 18436, enacted on November 7, 1969 (Official Gazette 19/XI/69) and entered into force on January 20, 1970. Its execution is unlimited.

Cooperation Agreement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the Argentine Republic and the Republic of Peru. Signed in Lima on May 25, 1968, it was approved by Law No. 18255, enacted on June 10, 1969 (Official Gazette 18/VII/69) and entered into force on July 13, 1969. Its duration is unlimited.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Romania for the cooperation in the peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on November 27, 1990, it was approved by Law No. 24217, enacted on June 24, 1993 (Official Gazette 1/VII/93) and entered into force on July 29, 1993. It is executed for ten years and automatically renewed on a five-year basis.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the cooperation in the peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Moscow on October 25, 1990, it was approved by Law No. 24253, enacted on November 12, 1993 (Official Gazette 18/XI/93) and entered into force on November 18 of that year. This Agreement was executed for ten years and automatically renewed on a five-year basis.

Joint Declaration of the Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services of the Argentine Republic and the State Corporation of Atomic Energy “ROSATOM” on the cooperation in the peaceful uses of the Nuclear Energy. Signed in Moscow on December 10, 2008.

Memo of Understanding between the State Corporation of Atomic Energy (ROSATOM), the Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services of Argentina, on cooperation concerning the peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on February 3, 2010.

Agreement on the Cooperation Guidelines between the Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services of Argentina and the State Corporation of Atomic Energy (ROSATOM), within the framework of the peaceful uses of Atomic Energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on April 14, 2010.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on cooperation in peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Bangkok on June 7, 1996, it was approved by Law No. 24861, enacted on September 10, 1997 (Official Gazette 16/IX/97) and entered into force on June 25, 1998. It was executed for five years and automatically renewed on a yearly basis.

Agreement on the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Turkey for the cooperation in peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Buenos Aires on May 3, 1988, it was approved by Law No. 23914 enacted on April 16, 1991 (Official Gazette 22/IV/91) and entered into force on February 24, 1992. It was executed for fifteen years and automatically renewed for five-year subsequent periods.

Cooperation Agreement on peaceful uses of the nuclear energy between the Argentine Republic and the Eastern Republic of Uruguay. Signed in Buenos Aires on July 8, 1968, it was approved by Law No. 17938 enacted on October 21 of that year (Official Gazette 25/X/68) and entered into force on December 30, 1972. It shall be executed for an unlimited amount of time.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and the Argentine Republic. Signed in Buenos Aires on July 5, 2007. It shall be executed for 5 years and automatically renewed for five-year periods.

Complementary Agreement on technical scientific cooperation between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Republic of Venezuela in the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Signed in Caracas on August 8, 1979, it was approved by Law No 22314 enacted on October 31, 1980 (Official Gazette 7/XI/80) and entered into force on November 17 of that year. It was initially executed for five years, automatically renewed on a yearly basis.

Agreement between the Government of the Argentine Republic and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on cooperation in peaceful uses of the nuclear energy. Signed in Hanoi on November 19, 2001, it was approved by Law No. 25776, enacted on September 12, 2003 (Official Gazette 16/IX/03). It entered into force on February 24, 2004. This agreement shall be executed for ten years and automatically renewed for five-year consecutive periods.

APPENDIX 2: MAIN ORGANISATIONS, ENTITIES AND COMPANIES INVOLVED/RELATED TO THE NUCLEAR ENERGY ACTIVITIES

Main organisations, entities and companies previously mentioned in Section 2, appear as follows with the corresponding contact information.

NATIONAL COMMISSION OF ATOMIC ENERGY

Address: Av. del Libertador 8250 - 1429 - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Telephone: +54 (0)11 4704-1000

Web site site: http://www.cnea.gov.ar/

AUTORIDAD REGULATORIA NACIONAL

Address: Av. del Libertador 8250 - (1429) - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 6323-1770

Fax: +54 (0) 11 6323-1771/1798

Web site: http://www.arn.gov.ar/

NUCLEOELECTRICA ARGENTINA S.A.

Address: Arribeños 3619 - (1429) - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 4701-7070

Web site: http://www.na-sa.com.ar/

INVAP S.E.

Address: Av. Cmte. Luis Piedrabuena 4950 (ex RN 237) - (8403) - S.C. de Bariloche - Río Negro.

Phone number.: +54 (0) 2944 409300

Fax: +54 (0) 2944 409339

Address: Esmeralda 356 1st floor - (1035) - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 4394-3344

Fax: +54 (0) 11 4394-3543

Web site: http://www.invap.com.ar/

CONUAR S.A.

Address: Presbítero Juan González y Aragón 15 - Centro Atómico Ezeiza - (1802) - Ezeiza - Buenos Aires

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 6326-1300

Fax: +54 (0) 11 6326-1490

Web site: http://www.conuar.com.ar/home.htm

DIOXITEK S.A.

Address: Av. del Libertador 8250 3er. Piso - (1429) - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 4704-1035

Fax: +54 (0) 11 4704-1043

Address: Rodríguez Peña 3250 - Alta Córdoba (5001) - Córdoba

Phone number: +54 (0) 351 470-3653 /3669 /3317 /3553

Fax: +54 (0) 351 470-8143

Web site: http://www.dioxitek.com.ar/

Fabricación de Aleaciones Especiales S.A. (FAE S.A.)

Address: Pbro. Juan González y Aragón 15 - (1802) - Ezeiza - Buenos Aires.

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 6326-1493/1494/1495

Fax: +54 (0) 11 6326-1496

Web site: http://www.fae.com.ar/

EMPRESA NEUQUINA DE SERVICIOS DE INGENIERÍA S.E.

Address: Ruta nacional 237 Km 1278 - (8300) - Arroyito, Neuquén. Casilla de Correo 636

Phone number: +54 (0) 299 449-4100

Fax: +54 (0) 299 449-4199

Address: Correa 1603 (1429) - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 4704-1071/72/73

Fax: +54 (0) 11 4704-1074

Web site: http://www.ensi.com.ar/

COMPAÑÍA ADMINISTRADORA DEL MERCADO MAYORISTA ELÉCTRICO S.A.

Address: Av. Madero 942 Piso 1° - (1106) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Phone number: +54 (0) 11 4319-3700

Web site: http://www.cammesa.com.ar/

AUTHORITIES

President of the Argentine Republic

Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER

Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services

Julio Miguel DE VIDO

Secretary of Energy

Daniel Omar CAMERON

President of the National Atomic Energy Commission

Norma Luisa BOERO

Vice president of the National Atomic Energy Commission

Mauricio BISAUTA

AUTHORS:

Norberto R. COPPARI (Assistant Manager of Strategic Planning Assistant Management)

Carlos F. REY (Manager of Control, Coordination and Planning Management)

Inés TORINO ARAÓZ (Strategic Planning Assistant Management)

Diego MAUR (Prospective and Energetic Planning Division)

Valeria CAÑADAS (Prospective and Energetic Planning Division)

Mariela Y. IGLESIA (Prospective and Energetic Planning Division)

COORDINATION:

Susana M. GÓMEZ DE SOLER (Manager of Control, Coordination and Planning Management)

gomsoler@cnea.gov.ar

National Commission of Atomic Energy

Av. del Libertador 8250

Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (1429).

Phone number: + 54 11 4704 1000 (ext. 1566)

http://www.cnea.gov.ar/

Control, Coordination and Planning Management

Strategic Planning Assistant Management

Prospective and Strategic Planning

TRANSLATORS:

Andrea Carolina CRUZ (Radiological and Nuclear Safety Management - CNEA)

Silvia NEUMEYER de HEYMAN

Avelino ROLÓN (Strategic Planning Assistant Management)

CNEA COLLABORATORS:

Gabriel Norberto BARCELO (Manager of Institutional Relations Management)

José Ernesto GREGUI (Manager of Environmental and Nuclear Safety Higher Management)

Heriberto José BOADO MAGAN (Manager of CAREM Project)

Claudio SOLARI (Manager of Legal Management)

Enrique CINAT (Manager of Radiological and Nuclear Safety Management)

Roberto E. BIANCHI (Manager of Prospecting Management. Raw Materials)

Santiago JENSEN MARIANI (Prospective and Strategic Planning Division)

María D. PARERA (Strategic Planning Assistant Management)

Gustavo BARBARAN (Strategic Planning Assistant Management)

Roberto M. ORSTEIN (Institutional Affairs Management)

Facundo DELUCHI (Institutional Affairs Management)

EXTERNAL COLLABORATORS:

Juan LEGISA (Advisor to the Secretariat of Energy, Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services)

Analía DUCO (Secretariat of Energy, Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services)

Luis BEURET (Undersecretary of Electric Power, Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services)

Juan Gerardo MEIRA (National Director of Prospective, Under secretariat of Energy, Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services)

Pablo Mira LLAMBI (Director of Information and Economic Situation, Under secretariat of Economic Program. National Ministry of Economic Affairs and Public Finance)

Alicia BARAGATTI (National Director of Initiatives. Secretariat of Energy. Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services)

Jorge KOSTIK (Secretariat of Energy, Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services)

Mónica SERVANT (Secretariat of Energy, Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services)

Gabriel E. TERIGI (Manager of Nuclear Affaire and Institutional Communication Management - ARN)

José Luis FIORENZA and Rubén O. SEMMOLONI (Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA)

Horacio RAPOPORT (Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA)

ATTACHMENT 1: PREFIXES AND UNIT CONVERSION FIGURE

SymbolNameFactor
Eexa1018
Ppeta1015
Ttera1012
Ggiga109
Mmega106
Kkilo103
Hhecto102
dadeca101
ddeci10-1
ccenti10-2
mmili10-3
µmicro10-6
?nano10-9
ppico10-12
Ffemto10-15
Aatto10-18

Table 1. Prefixes

De:TJGcalMtoeMBtuGWh
A:Multiplied by:
TJ1238.82.388 x 10-5947.80.2778
Gcal4.1868 x 10-3110-73.9681.163 x 10-3
Mtoe4.1868 x 10410713.968 x 10711630
Mbtu1.0551 x 10-30.2522.52 x 10-812.931 x 10-4
GWh3.68608.6 x 10-534121

Table 2. Energy conversion factors

De:kgtltstlb
A:Multiplied by:
kg (kilogram)10.0019.84 x 10-41.102 x 10-32.2046
t (ton)100010.9841.10232204.6
Lt (long tonne)10161.01611.122240.0
st (short tonne)907.20.90720.89312000.0
Pound (pound)0.4544.54 x 10-44.46 x 10-45.0 x 10-41

Table 3. Mass conversion factors

From:US galUK galbblft3lm3
To:Multiplied by:
US gal (US gallon)10.83270.023810.13373.7850.0038
UK gal (UK gallon)1.20110.028590.16054.5460.0045
bbl (barrel)42.034.9715.615159.00.159
ft3 (cubic foot)7.486.2290.1781128.30.0283
l (litre)0.26420.220.00630.035310.001
m3 (cubic metre)264.2220.06.28935.314710001

Table 4. Volume conversion factors

Attachments

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