Investment in nuclear energy

Two nuclear infrastructure projects, aimed at extending the life of the Atucha Nuclear Power Plant and the construction of the second dry storage of spent fuel assemblies of the Atucha Site, achieved a successful placement of the first tranche of the financial trust of Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA.

Bids for more than 30 million dollars were received, according to sources from the company in charge of the production and commercialization of the energy generated by the Atucha I, Atucha II and Embalse power plants. Its president, José Luis Antúnez, said that these investments "allow us to advance in the development of strategic nuclear energy projects for the country and have a positive impact on the national industrial growth and on the country's contribution to the fight against climate change".

The works to extend the useful life of Atucha I for 20 years will also boost employment through the generation of 2,000 jobs to carry out the tasks foreseen between 2024 and 2026, official sources indicated. Both activities will also provide opportunities for the development of qualified national suppliers and will contribute to achieve the environmental objectives of decarbonization: during 2021 and 2022 the net generation of the Argentine nuclear power plants allowed saving more than eight million tons of CO2.

The Solidarity Financial Trust for Public Infrastructure NASA IV is backed by the remuneration contract that the company has with Cammesa for the sale of energy generated and it is the fourth one used by Nucleoeléctrica after the successful experiences of the financing for the completion of Atucha II and the extension of the useful life of Embalse. It is made up of securities in pesos issued as dollar linked, which are adjusted according to the movements of the official exchange rate, and have a reference interest rate of 2% per annum. These securities are rated as Sustainability-Linked Bonds due to their characteristics and the placement agent was Nación Fideicomisos.