Argentina Establishes Secretariat of Nuclear Affairs to Drive Uranium Sector Growth and Policy Coordination

The Argentine government officially created the Secretariat of Nuclear Affairs within the Ministry of Economy, appointing Federico Ramos Napoli as its inaugural secretary. This new entity consolidates nuclear sector governance under the Ministry of Economy, headed by Luis Caputo, separating it administratively and operationally from the Ministry of Energy led by María Carmen Tettamanti. The Secretariat is tasked with overseeing and coordinating nuclear activities, including the Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA), Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, and Dioxitek, reinforcing state control over key nuclear companies and regulatory bodies.

Ramos Napoli, former president of Dioxitek S.A., brings a technical and managerial track record focused on restructuring and operational efficiency, where he led debt resolution and boosted production of uranium dioxide and cobalt-60 sources for medical and industrial use. His leadership is viewed by the government as critical to steering projects including the expansion of uranium supply chains and advancing strategic nuclear initiatives.

The Secretariat’s creation fulfills an institutional gap, formalizing nuclear sector policy after the 2024 announcement of the “Plan Nuclear Argentino” and the nuclear council, neither of which had been fully codified. This organizational shift aligns with the government’s extractivist vision, positioning Argentina as a potential “Arabia Saudita del Uranio” by leveraging the country’s 75 years of nuclear expertise to expand uranium mining and exports. The Secretariat is assigned comprehensive functions including policy development, project evaluation, supervision of scientific and technological milestones, and coordination among stakeholders.

Argentina’s three operational nuclear plants—Atucha I, Atucha II, and Embalse—currently provide about 6.5% of national electricity. The government is also advancing new technologies such as the CAREM small modular reactor and the multipurpose RA-10 reactor for radioisotope production. The Secretariat’s oversight extends to these projects and integrates nuclear sector planning with mining policies, especially in uranium and rare earth extraction.

Despite the ambitious agenda, the nuclear sector faces budget constraints, with the CNEA’s funding reportedly cut by 44% since 2023 and a reduction in specialized personnel. The Secretariat’s establishment signals a strategic pivot toward attracting investment, enhancing industrial production, and harnessing Argentina’s geographic advantages for complementary technological sectors like artificial intelligence infrastructure.