El Salvador targets the production of its first nuclear reactor

The General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons and Mines, Daniel Alvarez confirmed this during a forum organised by the Latin American Energy Organisation.

According to him, the nuclear reactor will be the first adopted by the country.

“We want to have the first research reactor by 2030, for which we are seeking to train 400 experts over a seven-year period,” Alvarez was quoted.

The government has also indicated its commitment to training dozens of specialists in the field of nuclear energy.

The Directorate signed a cooperation agreement with US-based Thorium Energy Alliance in March 2023, to explore the generation of nuclear energy with thorium fuel.

International organizations estimate that one ton of thorium can produce as much energy as 200 tons of uranium, or 3,500,000 tons of coal.

Last March, Alvarez and Vice Foreign Minister Adriana Mira presented the legal instruments to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the generation of nuclear energy.

Government as part of its nuclear energy programme also signed a memorandum of understanding with Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission earlier this month.

This was one of several bilateral agreements coinciding with the visit to Argentina by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele including the promotion of the exchange of information, scientific and technical visits, expert missions and training opportunities.

El Salvador President, President Nayib Bukele, hopes to improve the economic and scientific development of his country through nuclear energy.