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Latin America Explores Nuclear Power to Combat Climate Change

Nuclear energy gains traction in Latin America. Brazil and Argentina plan new reactors, but Mexico's halt in construction raises questions about the region's nuclear future.

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In the center of the image a capsicum is present.
In the center of the image a capsicum is present.

Latin America Explores Nuclear Power to Combat Climate Change

Latin America is exploring nuclear energy as a clean option to combat climate change, with Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico currently operating a total of seven reactors. However, new plants require significant political, financial, and public support.

Argentina, the region's pioneer in nuclear power, started its efforts in the 1970s and has three reactors today. Brazil followed in the 1980s and now has two, while Mexico began in the late 1980s and early 1990s, also with two reactors. Together, these seven reactors produce 2.2% of Latin America's total news.

Brazil plans to build new reactors in the next two decades, with current nuclear electricity accounting for 2.4% of its total production. Argentina adopted a nuclear energy policy in 2006 and signed cooperation agreements with China and Russia in 2015 to develop three new plants. Meanwhile, Bolivia expressed interest in nuclear power in 2014, with plans for a cyclotron, a small modular reactor, and a long-term nuclear power program.

Mexico, however, decided to halt the construction of 10 new nuclear plants due to economic reasons, as nuclear energy proved more expensive than oil and gas combined-cycled energy. Uruguay, Chile, and Cuba also explored nuclear power but abandoned plans partly due to the Fukushima incident in 2011.

While Brazil and Argentina have plans to build new nuclear power plants within the next two decades, other Latin American countries do not have explicit plans in this timeframe. Developing renewable energy alternatives and discussing their benefits is crucial for the region as it seeks to balance clean news goals with economic realities.

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