Latin America:

Argentina's New Nuclear Plant
15 January 2006

TELAM (ARGENTINA) - Eduardo Messi, president of Argentine-owned Nucleoelectrica Argentina Inc. (NASA), says the Atucha II Nuclear Power Plant (CNA II) (Pictured), under construction in the northern part of Buenos Aires Province, will be modern and safe. Messi’s statements contradict Uruguayan senator Jorge Saravia who recently said CNA II is a risk akin to a “new Chernobyl.” Messi said CNA II, designed and constructed by Siemens, is in accordance with the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN), is licensable under current National Regulatory Requirements and complies with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) international regulations. Additionally, NASA has agreed on a technical assistance program with the IAEA for CNA II. Messi also cited updated security systems, NASA’s ability to incorporate new technologies in instrumentation and control into CNA II’s operations and CNA II personnel’s permanent access to training to emphasize CNA II will be much safer than the Ukrainian plant at Chernobyl. NASA, in charge of operations at Argentina’s existing power plants Embalse and Atucha, maintains a permanent relationship with the IAEA, the World Association of Nuclear Power Plant Operators (WANO) and the Group of Owners of Candu Type (natural uranium and heavy water) Nuclear Power Plants.

Source Reliability: 7.0