Recent developments in power reactor fuel in Argentina

Abstract

At present two nuclear power stations are in operation in Argentina: a 350 MWc PHWR and a 600 MWe Candu type reactor. A third one of 680 MWe of the PHWR type is under construction. Planning for additional 700 MWe nuclear power is foreseen for the rest of the century. A small power reactor is under development (15 MWe-CAREM 15), designed for serving remote or low population areas in non-interconnected electrical grid systems. Domestic participation in nuclear fuel design and development activities has increased greatly in the period since the start-up of the first nuclear power station to the present, as a result of the self-sufficiency policy in the nuclear fuel cycle. PHWR fuel was optimizad in order to simplify domestic material procurement, production operations or better fuel utilization.