The Secretary of Nuclear Affairs, Federico Ramos Napoli, celebrated the conclusion in Buenos Aires of the regional conference of the FIRST program and highlighted the growing international interest in Argentina's experience in the nuclear sector. After three days of work, the official stated that the region and the world are looking to Argentina for its accumulated capabilities in a strategic activity for the energy future.
“We concluded three intense days of the regional conference of the FIRST program in Buenos Aires,” noted Ramos Napoli, emphasizing that the meeting included delegations from nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, along with support from partners in the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Federico Ramos Napoli during the development of the conference
As the official explained, the sessions were key to “building ties and designing a long-term agenda” around regional nuclear development, with special attention to small modular reactors, known as SMRs, a technology that is gaining prominence in the new global energy agenda.
Ramos Napoli clarified that the debate was not limited solely to modular reactors for electricity generation. “We also evaluated their non-electric applications, such as hydrogen production and desalination, among others,” he stated, adding that the goal was to analyze how this technology can address the concrete priorities of each country.
The agenda also included a visit to the Atucha Nuclear Complex, where delegations were able to observe firsthand part of the capabilities developed by Argentina over decades. In this context, Ramos Napoli emphasized that the visitors were able to see “what Argentina knows how to do”, a phrase that summarizes the value of a national industry built on engineering, technical training, and specialized knowledge.
The post by Ramos Napoli published on their social media.
“I am left with one certainty: the region and the world are watching us,” Napoli affirmed, pointing to the new role that Argentina seeks to occupy in nuclear matters, not only as a country with its own trajectory but also as a partner capable of supporting other nations that are just beginning to develop their programs.
In this vein, Ramos Napoli stated that “several of the participating countries are taking their first steps in nuclear energy” and that Argentina can support them with engineering, training, and experience.