Nuclear energy is forging a new path in its global development, and Latin America is no exception.
The commitment made by 22 countries from four continents to strengthen nuclear energy and triple installed capacity by 2050, as an effective measure to reduce CO2 emissions, marked a turning point and a significant shift in recognizing this technology as an option among the solutions proposed to tackle climate change.
This commitment, signed during COP28 held last year in Dubai, highlighted a change in attitude towards nuclear energy since the events and the Fukushima accident in 2011.
However, other important factors contribute to this change, mainly related to technological development and the emergence of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are more accessible due to their size, lower complexity, and cost. Most importantly, they can be prefabricated and later installed in the required locations, marking a profound difference from traditional nuclear plants.
The presence of nuclear energy in Latin America and the Caribbean is very limited. Only Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico have nuclear plants for electricity generation, with a combined capacity that barely reaches 1.1% of the region’s installed capacity, and a production that accounts for approximately 2% of the energy generated.
The development and deployment of small modular reactors have attracted the attention of countries in Latin America, mainly due to the potential of their modularity and reliability to complement the increasingly dynamic deployment of intermittent renewable energies.
It is crucial that Latin America and the Caribbean are adequately prepared for the development and future incorporation of this technology into their energy matrix. This requires proper regulation, institutional frameworks, and, above all, well-trained professionals.
To address this challenge and meet the urgent need to generate knowledge on this new technology and create spaces to share best practices, the role of international organizations such as OLADE, working alongside specialized agencies like the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), is fundamental.
