![]() The whole project cost about $2.15 billion, and included replacing all pressure tubes and steam generators as well as process computer systems. The refurbishment extended the plant's operational lifetime by 30 years and increased power by 35 MWe. The refurbishment, undertaken in partnership with Candu Energy d, commenced in December 2015 and was completed in December 2018, with return to service in May 2019. In 2010, an agreement was signed to refurbish the Embalse plant and increase its power by up to 7%. The Embalse plant entered commercial operation in 1984, running on natural uranium fuel c. In this case a Candu 6 reactor from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) was selected, partly due to the accompanying technology transfer agreement, and was constructed with the Italian company Italimpianti. In 1967, a second feasibility study was undertaken for a larger plant at Embalse in the Córdoba region, 500 km inland. It entered commercial operation in May 2016. First criticality was achieved early in June 2014, and grid connection was later that month, with full power in February 2015. This was loaded late in 2013, following the loading of the 451 fuel assemblies, each 9.76 metres long, which had commenced in December 2012. The Neuquen heavy water plant completed production of 600 tonnes of heavy water in June 2012. Effective completion of Atucha 2 construction was in September 2011. This involved completing Atucha 2 and extending the operating lifetimes of Atucha 1 and Embalse.Ĭompleting Atucha 2 was expected to cost $600 million, including $400 million for heavy water. In August 2006, the government announced a $3.5 billion strategic plan for the country's nuclear power sector. In 2003, plans for completing the 692 MWe Atucha 2 reactor (745 MWe gross) were presented to the government. The Siemens design of the Atucha PHWR units is unique to Argentina, and NA-SA was seeking expertise from Germany, Spain and Brazil to complete the unit. In 1994, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA b (NA-SA) was set up to take over the nuclear power plants from CNEA and oversee the continued construction of Atucha 2. However, work proceeded slowly due to lack of funds and was suspended in 1994 with the plant 81% complete. It was a Siemens design, a larger version of unit 1, and construction started in 1981 by a joint venture of CNEA and Siemens-KWU. In 1979, a third unit – Atucha 2 (officially named Central Nuclear Néstor Kirchner) – was ordered following a government decision to have four more units coming into operation 1987-97. In April 2018 the operating licence was extended to the end of 2024. NA-SA plans to begin a two-year $463 million refurbishment programme, replacing existing pressure tubes and fuel channels, when the current operating licence expires. Each has a pressure vessel, unlike any other large heavy water reactor. The very high burn-up suggests that two-thirds of the energy is coming from plutonium, giving it the highest conversion rate of any non-breeder. Originally fuelled with natural uranium, it now uses slightly enriched (0.9%) uranium fuel, which has doubled the burn-up from 6 to about 13 GWd/t or more and consequently reduced operating costs by 40%. Atucha 1Ītucha 1 (officially named Central Nuclear Juan Domingo Perón) entered commercial operation in 1974. ![]() That 362 MWe (gross) Atucha plant was built near Lima, 100 km northwest of Buenos Aires. With the country's policy at the time firmly based on using heavy water reactors fuelled by natural uranium, Canadian and German offers were most attractive, and that from Kraftwerk Union (KWU) a – with 100% financing – was accepted. In 1964, attention turned to nuclear power, and following a feasibility study for a 300-500 MWe unit for the Buenos Aires region, bids were invited. Two further research reactors are under construction. Today, five research reactors are operated by CNEA and others. The country's National Atomic Energy Commission ( Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CNEA) was set up in 1950 and resulted in a spate of activity centred on nuclear R&D, including construction of several research reactors.
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