October 6, 2005

Chile thinks nuclear plant might be best choice to meet increasing electricity demand

Most of Chile's electricity comes from hydro, with the bulk of the rest from natural gas. The government is considering how best to meet future demand, and nuclear power is on the table -- "a milestone in our country's energy program," is how Chile's ambassador to the IAEA, Milenko Skoknic Tapia, described his country's consideration of nuclear energy. He expects that Chile's foreign ministry, with the help of the IAEA, will organize a seminar, bringing nuclear experts from around the world to study the particulars in Chile. For the first time, he said, the Chilean government is prepared to "initiate a public reflection on the nuclear option for our country." Any decision to order a nuclear plant is still some years away -- no sooner than next decade, Skoknic was cited as saying.

[Ref: Ann MacLachlan (Platts, from Vienna), "Stirrings of nuclear expansion mark IAEA general conference", Nucleonics Week, October 6, 2005, p. 1]

June 29, 2005

Chile considering building a nuclear power plant

During a session of a Russo-Chilean intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation, Russia and Chile signed an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear power. Signing for Chile was Alfonso Dulanto, Chilean Minister of Mining. Signing for Russia was Alexander Rumyantsev, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Nuclear Power. "Chile has few natural resources and is considering building a nuclear power plant," Rumyantsev said after the signing. Chile is interested in cooperation with Russia on this project, he added.