Latin America Weighs Nuclear Energy Options

Japan’s earthquake-induced nuclear crisis didn’t stop Chile and Washington from forging a nuclear energy pact on Friday, days before President Barack Obama’s planned touchdown in Santiago on March 21. But what was intended to be an accord heralded by the U.S. head of state and Chilean President Sebastián Piñera instead became a point of contention among officials and environmentalists in earthquake-prone Chile. Despite the controversy, Chilean Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno and the U.S. Ambassador to Chile Alejandro Wolff signed the nuclear cooperation deal March 18. Following worldwide calls for a review of nuclear power as a safe source of alternative energy, countries across Latin America are examining their nuclear facilities and plans—even as Japan rushes to contain a disaster.

Chile has no active nuclear energy reactors (only two research reactors), and the Piñera administration says it has no concrete plans to build any. “The only thing we signed today is an agreement that says Chile can exchange information, knowledge, seminars, and send professionals to train in the nuclear energy field,” said Chilean Mines and Energy Minister Laurence Golborne on Friday. The government continues to state that, in large part due to the lengthy amount of time nuclear infrastructure takes to build, it will not be the Piñera administration that will decide whether Chile goes nuclear. But increased energy production and independence remain a priority due to their direct ties to economic growth. Chile, a net energy importer, recently signed nuclear-cooperation agreements with France and Argentina.

Piñera’s government has, however, attracted heavy criticism from the opposition Concertación party for its decision to inch toward nuclear energy. “Before continuing to spend Chilean resources on studies, research, and the signing of agreements we are unclear on, what Chile has to decide is whether or not it actually wants nuclear energy,” said opposition member Marcelo Díaz in a March 16 radio interview.
Furthermore, Chile is severely earthquake-prone, and, in 1960, experienced the strongest earthquake in recorded history. The danger posed to public safety by a nuclear accident is being debated in light of the government’s efforts following the January 2010 earthquake, seen by many as flawed. Chilean legislators have called on Golborne to testify about Chile’s energy sector—a hearing slated for after Obama’s visit. President Piñera responded to concerns by saying: “Everything we do with regard to energy will always be inspired by two principles: protecting the life and the health of Chileans and protecting the environment and the natural beauty of our country.”

Three Latin American countries currently use nuclear power: Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, with five operational plants between them. Brazil, which does not suffer from major earthquakes and has two nuclear reactors and is building a third—all in Rio de Janeiro state—announced it will continue expanding its capabilities, claiming its plants have more advanced safety measures than Japan’s. Argentina produces 6.2 percent of its electricity using nuclear energy, but is not vulnerable to earthquakes or tsunamis. Concerns have, however, been raised about aging infrastructure and a lack of institutional capability in the face of an emergency. Mexico, which is affected by seismic activity, says its sole reactor (in Veracruz state) passes safety requirements. The country is exploring the possibility of building up to 10 more reactors over the next 20 years in efforts to curb carbon emissions. Uruguay, like Chile, submitted its nuclear plans to the International Atomic Energy Agency in February as a result of ongoing power shortages.

Elsewhere in the region nuclear ambitions have been curbed in the wake of the Japanese emergency. Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez announced March 15 that he would suspend his country’s nuclear project, and Peru’s President Alan García announced March 17 his country would stay nuclear-free for one hundred years. Peru counts on large reserves of natural gas and is thought to have strong hydroelectric potential.

Learn more:

• Patricio Navia’s blog post in AQ Online “Nuclear Energy, Japan and the Implications for Obama’s Visit to Chile”
• Chilean-U.S. Nuclear Understanding Memorandum. (Versión en español)
• U.S. State Department Fact Sheet on the Nuclear Understanding Memorandum
• Chile-France joint nuclear agreement
• World Nuclear Association
• International Atomic Energy Agency
• America Economia analysis piece on the potential for nuclear energy in Chile
• Natural Resource Defense Council on Chile’s potential for renewable energy options.