A strategic document defining the scope of the Russian-Argentinean partnership in the civil nuclear sector was signed in Buenos Aires on December 1 on the margins of the G20 summit. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Mauricio Macri attended the signing ceremony. Rosatom’s Director General Alexey Likhachev on Russia’s part and Minister of Energy Javier Iguacel on Argentina’s part signed the document. “We are absolutely confident that this initiative will give a new impetus to our mutual cooperation,” Alexey Likhachev said.

The parties will first consider different approaches to the construction of small and large capacity nuclear power plants in Argentina. They will also discuss an option of jointly operating a fleet of Russian-designed floating nuclear power plants to be built after successful commissioning of Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s only floating nuclear power unit. The agreement also provides for potential projects in third countries, including nuclear research centers, staff training, and research programs.

Argentina also proposed that Rosatom join the country’s national uranium project and share the in-situ leaching technology that is used by Rosatom to mine uranium.

The framework agreement on civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries was signed on July 12, 2014 during Vladimir Putin’s visit to Argentina. It provides for fundamental and applied research in peaceful uses of nuclear power; design, construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants and research reactors; nuclear waste management; production of radioactive isotopes, etc. The document establishing a legal framework for new projects came into force on November 23, 2018.

In 2015, Russia and Argentina signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of a Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactor in this South American country. In addition, a memorandum of understanding on uranium exploration and mining was signed in January 2018. It proves that the cooperation between Russian and Argentina is gaining momentum.