This is a strategic facility for the nuclear system, which has remained out of operation since 2017
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Javier Milei's government will move forward with the reactivation of the Heavy Water Industrial Plant (PIAP), located in the province of Neuquén, a strategic facility for the Argentine nuclear system that has remained out of operation since 2017.
The decision was confirmed after an official tour led by nuclear authorities, within the framework of the new energy policy promoted by President Javier Milei's administration.
The visit was carried out by the president of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), engineer Martín Porro, together with the Secretary of Nuclear Affairs, Federico Ramos Napoli. Based on that inspection, it was decided that the national body will assume a central role in the maintenance of the plant and will begin to prepare the process for its operational recovery.
In an official statement, CNEA reported: "This morning the President of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), Eng. Martín Porro, toured the Heavy Water Industrial Plant (PIAP) in Neuquén together with the Secretary of Nuclear Affairs, Dr. Federico Ramos Napoli".
La visita a la Planta Industrial de Agua Pesada.
As a result of the technical evaluation carried out during the visit, the body confirmed that it will move forward with a transition scheme prior to productive reactivation. According to the details provided, "based on the visit, it was decided that CNEA will take charge of the maintenance tasks with its own personnel and will begin to prepare the path for an open and transparent tender that will make it possible to reactivate the production of a critical input for nuclear power plants, both in Argentina and worldwide".
Heavy water plays an essential role in the operation of the national nuclear fleet. According to the official statement, "in Argentina, our three nuclear power plants — Atucha I, Atucha II, and Embalse — use heavy water as a coolant in the reactor and as a neutron moderator during the nuclear fission process".
PIAP is located in the town of Arroyito, in Neuquén, and belongs entirely to the National Atomic Energy Commission. The plant was inaugurated in 1993 and is considered a high-level technological facility.
However, it has remained without production for several years. The body pointed out that, "despite being an elite facility in its class inaugurated in 1993, since 2017 it has remained halted due to lack of investment and lack of interest from previous governments in promoting a concrete project that would allow Argentina to produce heavy water again".
In this context, CNEA confirmed that it will assume leadership of the bidding process. "This is why this Commission, under the instruction of the Secretariat of Nuclear Affairs, will lead the bidding process for the revamping necessary to enable the resumption of the plant's operations".
La visita a la Planta Industrial de Agua Pesada.
Ramos Napoli's message
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Nuclear Affairs, Federico Ramos Napoli, released a message in which he emphasized the political decision of the current government to move forward with the recovery of the plant. In his statement he expressed: "WE ARE GOING TO REACTIVATE THE HEAVY WATER PLANT IN NEUQUÉN".
"Due to lack of investment and neglect by previous governments, PIAP has been out of operation since 2017", he explained, and added: "Since then, the monthly cost of its preservation and maintenance has reached one million dollars. An unacceptable cost for a plant that has been idle for almost 9 years and, instead of generating income for CNEA, costs it millions".
Within the framework of the new plan, the objective, as he emphasized, is to transform PIAP into an economically sustainable unit. "We want PIAP to develop a viable commercial model that generates income for CNEA and is not a burden on Argentines' pockets."
With this measure, Javier Milei's government seeks to reactivate a strategic facility in the nuclear sector, move toward the recovery of PIAP's production, and leave behind years of paralysis that caused economic losses for all Argentines.
