Argentina exports nuclear components to China

Argentina is exporting nuclear components to China for the first time through the company Combustibles Nucleares Argentinos (Conuar), which closed the sale of 10 shielding plugs for Chinese nuclear power plants, informed the Argentine Embassy in that Asian country. "This is a milestone in the bilateral relationship as it is the first time that nationally manufactured components are used in this kind of power facilities", highlighted the embassy in charge of Sabino Vaca Narvaja in a statement.

In this sense, Vaca Narvaja remarked: "At a time when Argentina's scientific-technical system is being questioned by some political sectors, reality shows the high added value export potential of our country". He also recalled that "Argentina has a highly developed platform in the nuclear sector with its own developments and a unique scientific-technical base in the region".

"We have a network of organizations and companies such as NA-SA (Nucleoeléctrica Argentina), CNA, Conuar, Impsa, Invap and Nuclearis that have experience in the international market and are mature enough to compete in markets with highly sophisticated demands such as the Chinese one", detailed the official.

The shielding plugs will arrive this Friday at the port of Shanghai and will be used in the Qinshan 3-1 and 3-2 Nuclear Power Plants, located in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, and are similar to those supplied by the same company for the Embalse de Córdoba Nuclear Power Plant, according to the diplomatic office.

In this regard, Vaca Narvaja explained that this export is a milestone for the bilateral relationship, which demonstrates the potential for diversification of the country's export basket in what is a sector with highly sophisticated and high value-added products.

Conuar was created in 1982 from the merger between the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), owner of 32.7%, and the Pérez Companc Group, owner of 67.3%.

With 41 years of experience in the production of reactors, tubes and nuclear components and exports to 32 countries, its products have applications in the nuclear, aerospace, chemical and petrochemical industries.

On the other hand, the Argentine embassy highlighted that China is already working with the Argentine state-owned company NA-SA to extend the life of some Candu technology nuclear power plants. In the same way, Invap promotes the export of radioisotopes and promotes a project for the provision of an experimental reactor and a radioisotope plant (production of Mo-99) in that Asian country.