Canadian agreement aids Argentina

2006-12-05

Three months after a US$ 3.5 billion strategic plan for its nuclear power sector, Nucleoelectrica Argentina SA has signed up Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) to refurbish its first CANDU 6 power station - Embalse, and undertake a feasibility study for a new 700 MWe CANDU 6 unit to be built 2010-15. It also covers assistance with the part-built Atucha-2 unit, to be completed in 2010. The Embalse work involves extending its life by 25 years and will cost about US$ 400 million, while the new reactor would cost about $2 billion. Argentina can join AECL in providing heavy water.( AECL,27/11/2006)