Programa de conferencias
Nuclear Power Generation and Uranium Resources in Latin America. A comprehensive vision.
Luis LópezJefe División Gestión de Proyectos @Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA)
+35 years of experience in the nuclear sector, working for the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina (CNEA). Former Manager of Raw Materials Exploration. Currently, head of the Project Management Division, in charge of undertakings on nuclear resources nationally and internationally. Consultant for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and national counterpart for technical cooperation (TC) and coordinated research projects (CRP). Member of the Uranium Group of the IAEA and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)/Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Member of the Expert Group for Resource Management (EGRM) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), integrating the working groups on resources for nuclear fuel and social and environmental considerations. Professor at the Dan Beninson Nuclear Teaching Institute (IDB) and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).
Resumen
The presentation aims to provide a historical review, the current situation and the perspectives of the Latin American Region in terms of uranium resources, nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear power generation. Likewise, an attempt is made to frame these concepts within the statistical profile of the uranium industry and the main aspects of the market for this critical material worldwide. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, generate nuclear power, and together with other countries in the region they have various developments in the field of nuclear science and applications, uranium being a key component to power this system. At present, Brazil is the only country that maintains active mining and industrial processing activities to obtain uranium oxide concentrate, also having a clear expansion program. Both, Argentina and Mexico do not have projects that in the short term are decidedly oriented to uranium production. Regarding uranium resources, other than the three countries mentioned before, mainly Peru and Paraguay have identified resources and offer alternatives for the future supply of raw material for the manufacture of nuclear fuel.