Río Negro province is taking a key step in the search for strategic minerals by launching a new phase of exploration focused on uranium, an essential resource for the development of nuclear energy.
This initiative is part of a broader energy policy promoted by the Government of Javier Milei, aimed at promoting the use and development of nuclear energy.
The provincial Mining Secretariat confirmed the start of fieldwork in an area located northwest of the city of Catriel, in the oil region known as Tres Nidos, within the strategic Neuquén Basin. This region not only has relevant technical background, but also has consolidated infrastructure thanks to its history of hydrocarbon exploitation.
The project, called "Catriel", originates from research conducted by the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), an agency that for decades has been responsible for the development and study of nuclear resources in Argentina.
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This time, CNEA identified anomalies with uranium presence based on geological information and technical records from the area, which led to the request for exploration permits as early as 2009. As a result, the "Mari" and "Eugenio II" permits emerged, currently under its jurisdiction.
During the second half of 2025, a key stage of the project will be carried out, with eight exploratory drillings totaling 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) in depth. These drillings will provide precise data on the deposit's potential and determine the technical and economic feasibility of future exploitation.
"This is an initial-stage project, which is part of the set of 54 initiatives related to metallic and energy minerals with potential yet to be discovered in our province," explained the provincial Mining Secretariat.
Central nuclear argentina.
The importance of uranium
Uranium is a strategic mineral globally, as it is the main fuel used in nuclear reactors that generate clean and continuous energy. In an international context marked by the transition to non-polluting sources, its relevance has grown significantly.
Countries around the world are investing in nuclear infrastructure as a safe and sustainable alternative to coal and gas, and Argentina is no exception. Under the current administration of Javier Milei, there is an effort to revalue the role of nuclear energy as part of an economic and scientific development policy.
The presence of the Catriel project in the Neuquén Basin also provides a strategic advantage by leveraging logistics networks, existing infrastructure, and technical expertise already deployed in the area, which could accelerate its progress in the coming stages.
Uranium exploration in Río Negro is thus integrated into a broader national strategy that recognizes nuclear energy as an indispensable tool to ensure energy supply, drive industrialization, and position Argentina at the forefront of technology.
