News / Brèves Back to previous selection / Retour à la sélection précédente Argentina Takes the Next Step in Creating Its Nuclear Industry 6 December 2013 (LPAC)—Argentina’s domestic engineering company, IMP SA, has been awarded a $64 million contract to build the pressure vessel for Argentina’s prototype CAREM small reactor. The 200-ton reactor pressure vessel will be the first designed and manufactured in Argentina, and is an important step in that nation creating its own, indigenous nuclear industry. Pressure vessels are a critical bottleneck for the nuclear industry worldwide, and although this is a small one, it’s an important additional capability. Argentina plans to begin cold testing the CAREM reactor in 2016, and to load its first nuclear fuel the following year. This 25MW prototype reactor will later be the basis for a larger 100-200MW version, and all sizes will be offered for export, mainly to developing countries. [MGF]