The Government of Javier Milei initiated the process of remediation of the Sierra Pintada Mining and Manufacturing Complex, located in San Rafael, Mendoza, with the aim of advancing towards the future reactivation of uranium mining in the country.
The day included the presence of national and provincial authorities, along with technical teams from the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), responsible for the tasks on the site.
At the location, they were received by the Secretary of Nuclear Affairs, Federico Ramos Napoli; the Minister of Energy and Environment of Mendoza, Jimena Latorre; and the Undersecretary of Nuclear Policy, Ayelén Giomi. During the visit, the CNEA teams presented the current status of the ongoing tasks and conducted a tour of various areas of the complex.
The Secretary of Nuclear Affairs, Federico Ramos Napoli
The itinerary included the quarry that operated until the mid-nineties, the refurbished uranium treatment plant, and the works corresponding to the new radium and arsenic plant, currently under construction.
The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate with the province the necessary steps to advance in the remediation of the site, an essential requirement for a future reactivation of uranium production.
The National Atomic Energy Commission carries out these tasks under licensing and supervision from regulatory authorities, with ongoing monitoring of the area. Additionally, the agency highlighted the use of its technical expertise and the studies developed over decades to support each stage of the process with rigorous criteria and environmental control.
Argentine nuclear power plants
The message from Federico Napoli
In parallel, the Secretary of Nuclear Affairs, Federico Ramos Napoli, shared details of the visit through his X account, where he emphasized the progress of the remediation process and the collaboration between the nation and the province as a central axis of this stage.
“Today I visited the Sierra Pintada Mining and Manufacturing Complex in San Rafael, along with the Minister of Energy and Environment of Mendoza, Dr. Jimena Latorre, the Undersecretary of Nuclear Policies, Eng. Ayelén Giomi, and the President of Dioxitek, Eng. Bruno Oberlis,” he wrote.
The official noted that the tour aimed to coordinate with provincial authorities the first steps of the remediation process for the historical liabilities of the site, a fundamental stage to advance towards the reactivation of uranium mining, an activity that has been halted for over 30 years.
“The collaboration between the nation and the province constitutes a central axis of this stage, which will allow Argentina to mine uranium on our own soil again,” he explained.
And he concluded: “With these advances, the remediation process in Sierra Pintada consolidates as a key step within the country's energy and nuclear strategy, aimed at recovering productive capacities on national territory.”
