The National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) andNucleoeléctrica Argentina have signed a framework agreement fortechnical assistance for the country's CAREM small modular reactorproject.

An aerial view of the pilot plant, in November 2022 (Image: CNEA)

The technical assistance framework agreement was signed by CNEApresident Adriana Serquis and Nucleoeléctrica President José LuisAntúnez and will have a two-year duration, extendable by mutualagreement, and provides a general framework for contracts for CAREMplant developments.

CNEA said the framework covers studies, analysis and calculations forCAREM development, supervision in engineering expertise, technicaldocumentation such as equipment specifications and "advice on control measures, good practices and lessons learned; risk and opportunity analysis; determine training needs and eventually provide them, and advice on licensing issues".

Specific areas likely to benefit from the agreement will be"instrumentation and control, mechanical engineering, electromechanicalassembly, pre-commissioning and commissioning, programming, radiationprotection, commissioning and operation, simulations, electrical systemand thermohydraulics".

The first contract within the framework agreement has also beensigned "for the provision of technical assistance services inengineering to support the forecasts of design, construction,commissioning operation, operation and maintenance of CAREM nuclearpower plants".

CNEA said the aim of the contract was for CAREM to take advantage of,and learn from, the experience that Nucleoeléctrica (NA-SA) "has beengathering both in operation and maintenance of Argentine plants, as wellas in engineering during the completion and commissioning processes ofthe Atucha 2 plant and life extension of the Embalse plant".

CNEA's Serquis said the framework agreement "enhances thecapabilities of the CAREM project, because it adds the capabilities ofNA-SA. The state company will participate in the start-up, training ofoperators and many other aspects that are necessary for this project tobecome a reality".

Nucleoeléctrica's Antúnez said: "Nucleoeléctrica Argentina wasborn from CNEA and this agreement has great relevance, because we arehelping to realise something that would have been a dream 50 years ago,which is the first reactor designed and built entirely inArgentina. This is proof of the maturity of the Argentine nuclearsector."

First concrete was poured for the prototype reactor in February 2014,marking the official start of its construction, however the project wassuspended on a number of occasions, including from November 2019 fortwo years before restarting. In October 2022CNEA said that civil construction works were expected to be finished by2024, with initial criticality expected by the end of 2027.

The CAREM name is taken from Central ARgentina de ElementosModulares. The 32 MWe prototype is Argentina's first domesticallydesigned and developed nuclear power unit. At least 70% of thecomponents and related services for CAREM-25 are to be sourced fromArgentine companies. The commercial model ultimately envisaged by CNEAas the basis of a multi-reactor plant would have a higher power of between 100 and 120 MWe.