The investment will be financed entirely through private US capital without state contributions to construction costs. Economy Minister Luis Caputo met with Nuclear Affairs Secretary Federico Morábito Napoli, Meitner Energy Latam CEO Teófilo Lacroze, and company director Pablo Franzetti to review the submission. Caputo confirmed the project relies on an Argentine patent and US private financing.
The proposal indicates Nucleoeléctrica Argentina retains rights to assume operation and maintenance of the facility under market conditions once commissioned. Meitner Energy will pay surface rights fees for land within the Atucha complex where construction would occur. The company estimates the project will generate approximately 2,000 direct jobs across engineering, construction, assembly, commissioning and operations phases, alongside indirect employment through supplier networks.
Construction timeline is estimated at five years contingent on Economy Ministry approval and Nuclear Regulatory Authority licensing completion. The submission positions the project for potential inclusion in the Super RIGI investment regime based on the investment amount and technological innovation criteria.
Small modular reactors represent a priority segment in global nuclear industry development due to shortened construction periods, standardized manufacturing processes and scalable generation capacity expansion. Argentina maintains established capabilities in peaceful nuclear technology development, engineering design and component fabrication. The ACR-300 aims to establish Argentina’s first commercial reactor in this category and create technology export opportunities.
The project would mark one of the largest private investments in Argentina’s nuclear power generation sector. Regulatory authorities will now evaluate the initiative for Super RIGI qualification and begin authorization processes required for construction approval.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
