The two sides are still deciding on “revised financial structures” for the project, Julian Gadano, undersecretary for nuclear energy for Argentina, told the China Nuclear Energy Sustainable Development Forum in Beijing, according to press reports.
According to an agreement signed in May 2017 China National Nuclear Corporation and Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA were to begin construction of a 700-MW Candu-6 pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) at Atucha-3, but so far work has not begun. The agreement also called for a 1,000-MW Hualong One, or HPR1000, pressurised-water reactor to be built starting in 2020.
Argentina has three operating commercial power reactors – a Candu unit at the Embalse nuclear station and two PHWRs at Atucha.
A prototype domestically designed and developed 25-MW small pressurised water reactor known as Carem is under construction at a site next to the Atucha station.
Under the terms of the 2017 agreement, China was to provide a long term-loan for 85% of the required financing, which will be repaid when the plants begin generating electricity.
In December 2018 Russia and Argentina signed an agreement to explore the possibility of the construction of nuclear plants and floating nuclear plants for the South American country.
