Transfer of nuclear technology obtained by the Argentine Republic as a consecuence of the contruction of the first two nuclear power stations

Abstract

In the majority of the cases to date, when a developing country has decided to install its first nuclear power station, it has chosen to sign "turn-key" contracts with large ínternational firms or consortia for the supply of complete facilities ¡n guaranteed commercial operation at an established date and at a known price. This type of contract usually presents difficulties: the obligations of the supplier when the contracting ageney wishes that this first nuclear power station become not only an efficient, economical and reliable electric power producing machine, but also an adequate instrument for transferring to local industry knowledge of nuclear technology advances and standards in the areas o f safety, design , construction , quality control, erection and commissioning of nuclear systems and equipment. This was the situation confronting the Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica when, in the years 1967 and 1972, it had to decide on the contracts fo r its two first nuclear powerstations. It became necessary in both cases, to establish a mechanism which made the responsibilities and guarantees ssumed by the main contractors com patible with máximum national participation in the design, construction , erection and com m issioning of the projeets.