Russia’s Rosatom, Argentina to improve cooperation in nuclear energy

Russia and Argentina signed a “strategic document” confirming their partnership in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including floating nuclear power plants, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina after the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri, State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom said.

The document is more of a framework character and doesn’t set out any parameters of prospective projects.

Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev and Argentina’s Minister of Energy Javier Iguacel signed the document.

“The signed document will allow us to broaden the existing cooperation with our Argentinian partners, Likhachev was quoted as saying in an emailed press release. “All of us, at the State Atomic Energy Corporation ‘Rosatom’, are certain that this step will incentivise our mutually beneficial cooperation in the application of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” he added.

According to Rosatom, one of the fundamental areas of mutual cooperation outlined in the document, is the development of various project execution strategies to be applied to large and small capacity NPP construction projects in Argentina. The agreement also involves working on joint implementation projects in third world countries. This includes constructing research centres and developing staff capacity therein, Rosatom said. Finally, the document provides the opportunity for joint cooperation in a plethora of areas, including: joint research and personnel training.

According to the document, the parties will also consider the possibility of a joint operation regarding a fleet of floating NPPs, based on Russian design. Taking into account the completed construction of the world’s first floating NPP “Akademik Lomonosov,” Rosatom said.

According to Rosatom, a cooperation roadmap on the implementation of specific Russian-Argentine projects in the peaceful use of nuclear energies was also signed at the ceremony.