This morning, Dr. Germán Guido Lavalle, President of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), welcomed the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers, Dr. Guillermo Francos, and Deputy Chief, Engineer José Rolandi, to mark the installation of the reflector tank in the RA-10 Multipurpose Reactor, constructed by our partner INVAP.
Along with national authorities, CNEA officials, and representatives from the nuclear sector, they toured the facilities at the Ezeiza Atomic Center, where the reactor, poised to be the largest producer of radioisotopes in Latin America, is being built.
“Our country has always been distinguished among the nations with nuclear capabilities worldwide. This reactor is a significant advancement for the development and growth of science. A project of this magnitude is a source of pride for all Argentinians,” said Francos.
For his part, CNEA President Guido Lavalle expressed gratitude for the national government’s support, stating, “To undertake such high-level technological projects that benefit the country, medicine, and industry, we need both national government support and a well-trained workforce capable of executing them.”
The RA-10 will ensure Argentina’s self-sufficiency in producing radioisotopes, essential in nuclear medicine and widely used in industry and agriculture. It will also open up lucrative export opportunities.
“This is a project whose investment will be recouped, not only in terms of capabilities but also economically. There is a global demand for molybdenum and doped silicon, and the RA-10 will generate exports of $80 to $100 million annually, helping to recover the national government’s investment,” said Guido Lavalle. He emphasized that this milestone, celebrated today, is due to the “ongoing work and effort of scientists and technologists at the National Atomic Energy Commission over decades.”
RA-10 Project Manager, Engineer Herman Blaumann, also thanked the national authorities and visitors from nuclear sector entities and companies, providing details on the progress of the work. “We anticipate the RA-10 reactor’s commissioning by the end of next year,” he said. “The civil works are complete, and all components are installed. Nuclear supplies, fuels, protection systems, and nuclear instrumentation are operational, as well as the installation of all mechanical assembly, ventilation, electrical system, and instrumentation fronts. Additionally, our team of operators is in training,” he detailed.
International Projection
In conjunction with the Radioisotope Production Plant, the RA-10 will have the capacity to meet 20% of the global demand for radioisotopes, with estimated exports of $90 million annually. It will also enable the production of other high-value-added commercial products, such as doped silicon, a critical input for the energy transition, and provide irradiation services for power reactor fuel rods.
Scientifically, the RA-10 will position itself as the main regional player in R&D for thermal and low-temperature neutrons. Through its associated laboratories, it will become a unique science and technology complex in the region, opening new horizons in the national scientific-technological system.
The reflector tank, installed this week, together with the core, forms the heart of the reactor. It is the most complex component, designed to provide an adequate volume of low-energy neutrons within a structure capable of containing devices that will utilize these neutrons in various applications planned for the facility.
The tank weighs 2,540 kilograms, measures 2 meters in diameter and 1 meter in height, and its construction took 32 months. It is a unique piece of engineering made from a zirconium alloy (Zircaloy), a material that optimizes the number of neutrons inside. Its design was defined based on the requirements of the reactor’s future users, considering volumes, neutron flux, and operating conditions. It was manufactured by INVAP at the Bariloche Atomic Center and traveled hundreds of kilometers in March to reach the Ezeiza Atomic Center.
The first step in the installation was placing it inside the reactor pool, followed by the assembly of the internal components. Once this work is completed, the pool will be filled, and pre-operational tests are expected to begin in July 2025, leading to the reactor’s commissioning.
Fully Operational by 2026
The RA-10 is projected to be fully operational by 2026. It will be associated with the Argentine Neutron Beam Laboratory (LAHN), where advanced research techniques useful in basic sciences, health, and industry will be developed. It will also feature a Laboratory for the Study of Irradiated Materials (LEMI), allowing CNEA to expand its capabilities to produce and qualify new fuels and components for future experimental and power reactors.
Completing the hub are the Radioisotope Production Plant (PPRF) and the Industrial Plant for Research Reactor Fuel Elements (PIECRI). These facilities, centered around the RA-10, will form a unique, cutting-edge center in Latin America, providing services to scientists worldwide for diverse research.
With the RA-10, Argentina will lead the development of this type of reactor, following a technological evolution line dating back to the 1960s and with the OPAL Reactor, built for Australia in 2007, as the immediate reference, reaffirming its position as a global leader in nuclear technology.
Today’s visit included authorities from the Chief and Deputy Chief of Cabinet’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CONICET, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Invap, companies associated with CNEA: Conuar, Dioxitek, and Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, and CNEA staff.
