Construction work has been completed on Argentina’s third nuclear power plant Atucha II, almost three decades after work on the plant began.
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez attended a ceremony at the plant on 28 September, touring the turbine hall.
Argentine president tours Atucha II turbine hall
Atucha II started construction in 1980, but work was idle for many years until in 2006, Nestor Kirchner's government launched the Argentine nuclear plan and decided to complete the project.
Speaking in a televised national address Fernandez said that between October 2006 and August 2011 over $1 billion had been invested in the work. Almost 90% of the total investment was in labour and supplies, she said. At the height of work in August 2010, almost 7000 people were employed at the plant.
Atucha II with a capacity of 745 MW is expected to being commercial operation in 2012.
Fernandez said that Argentina’s next goals would be a life extension for Embalse, construction of Atucha III, and the construction of the CAREM; a reactor designed by Argentina.
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