“The global nuclear renaissance is not a forecast. It is happening,” Federico Ramos, Argentina’s secretary for nuclear affairs, told representatives from energy companies and other firms meeting in New York this week. .File Photo by CNEA/EPA
BUENOS AIRES, March 11 (UPI) — Argentina’s government presented investment and cooperation opportunities in its nuclear industry to more than 50 U.S. companies this week, as officials seek to position the country as a partner in the global energy transition.
The presentation was made during Argentina Week 2026, held Monday through Wednesday in New York to bring together business leaders and multinational executives. A session titled “Argentina’s Nuclear Sector: A New Stage of Development and Global Projection” was held at the Argentine Consulate General.
“The global nuclear renaissance is not a forecast. It is happening,” Federico Ramos, Argentina’s secretary for nuclear affairs, told representatives from energy companies and other firms.
Ramos said about 65 nuclear reactors are under construction worldwide, and that woold is increase because of demand for uranium, nuclear fuel services and radioisotopes.
“Argentina has the resources, the technology and now both the institutional framework and macroeconomic stability to participate in that growth, not as a spectator, but as a partner,” he said.
Officials and technical experts outlined Argentina’s capabilities across the nuclear supply chain, including uranium mining, fuel production, technological development, specialized engineering and electricity generation.
Rolando Granada, a physicist and researcher at Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission, told UPI that the government’s goal is to attract foreign investment.
“It would certainly be beneficial. The aim is to build partnerships and align capabilities with investors, agencies or foreign companies that view nuclear power generation as a profitable business,” Granada said.
He added that while Argentina has technical capacity, expansion requires financial resources the country currently lacks.
“To continue growing and expanding, foreign investment is needed, since Argentina’s financial capabilities in this area are extremely limited,” he said.
Granada also pointed to uranium as a sector with development potential. Argentina has uranium deposits used as nuclear fuel, but exploiting them requires capital.
“There are uranium deposits in Argentina. To develop them, investment is required,” he said. However, he cautioned that known reserves are limited, meaning Argentina would not be in a position to become a major uranium exporter.
The United States relies heavily on nuclear energy and could face constraints in domestic uranium production within 15 years, increasing its need for reliable foreign suppliers, he said.
Granada said promoting Argentina’s nuclear sector abroad could benefit the country, but warned of trade-offs.
“This activity is positive for Argentina, but we have to consider that our export capacity is limited. If we export uranium, there may not be enough left for our own power plants,” he said.
Beyond electricity generation, Granada emphasized the broader scope of nuclear technology, including nuclear medicine and its role in advanced diagnostics and treatments.
He also highlighted scientific research applications, noting that many countries invest heavily in reactors and particle accelerators to produce neutrons for studying materials, biological processes and industrial or pharmaceutical applications.
Argentina’s nuclear program has developed over roughly 75 years and has earned international recognition, he said. The country can design and build research reactors and has exported that technology to other markets.
Among current projects, Granada cited the CAREM small modular reactor, a fully Argentine-designed initiative that reflects the country’s technological capabilities and its effort to maintain a role in the global nuclear industry.
