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Argentina leader in use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes, says CFK

Thursday, September 29th 2011 - 16:03 UTC
Full article 21 comments
The president opening the German built Atucha II nuclear plant close to Buenos Aires The president opening the German built Atucha II nuclear plant close to Buenos Aires
Nuclear plant Atucha II Nuclear plant Atucha II

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) opened on Wednesday the country’s third nuclear plant Atucha II, in the Greater Buenos Aires district of Zárate, and highlighted the fact that “Argentina is leader in the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.”

“Argentine scientists have never used their neurons to destroy the lives of other beings. We are peaceful people, good people, not everyone can say that” Fernández de Kirchner stressed. She also said that Argentina is diversifying and expanding its energy grid.

Mrs. Kirchner announced that 45.5% more megawatts of energy have been implemented since 2003. ”In the past 8 years, new factories, businesses and workshops have needed more energy,” she said.

“I think that it is us, the Bicentennial generation, that is repaying that debt that the country had for decades, and that for different reasons and external interference, prevented Argentina from having nuclear power,” CFK added, and recalled that Argentina was the first Latin American country to implement nuclear power.

“Somewhere up there he (Nestor Kirchner) must be looking on and seeing all he did was not in vain”, said Cristina Fernandez who in political events tends to evoke the figure of her late husband.

With less than a month for the presidential election, the activation of Atucha II was broadcasted by all public and cable news networks.

The German-designed Atucha II plant is expected to be fully operational in six to eight months after engineers run a series of tests.

Construction on the plant began in the early 1980s, but worked soon stopped and did not resume until 2006, when then-president Kirchner (2003-2007), ordered the plant to be completed.

Argentina currently relies heavily on natural gas and oil for its energy, much of which is imported. Once fully operational, Atucha II will supply some 700 megawatts of energy to the power grid, enough for the needs of some four million people. Argentina has just over 40 million people.

Argentina's other nuclear plants are Atucha I (335 megawatts) and the Embalse plant (600 megawatts). Once the new plant is online 10% of Argentina's electrical needs will be provided by nuclear power.

Plans are on the drawing board for an Atucha III nuclear plant as well as an overhaul of the Embalse plant to add 30 years to its operational life and the construction of the Caren nuclear reactor designed by Argentine minds, advanced President Cristina Fernandez.

Atucha II is located on the banks of the Parana River in the town of Zarate, in Buenos Aires province, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the capital. It was built at a cost of more than 2.4 billion dollars.

Finally CFK said that in the last eight years “we Argentines have been protagonists of the most important economic growth we can proudly say we are the country, after China that has seen its economy grow most in the world”.
 

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  • so_far

    who is who....

    Illuminating comparison on the historic position and behavior of the leaders of Argentina and UK

    1) Argentina:

    ”...Argentine scientists have never used their neurons to destroy the lives of other beings. We are peaceful people, good people, not everyone can say that” Fernández de Kirchner stressed

    2) UK

    Mr Mitterrand´s words (ex presidente of France) about Tatcher..

    “Excuse me. I had a difference to settle with the Iron Lady. That Thatcher, what an impossible woman!” the president said as he arrived, more than 45 minutes late, on May 7 1982. “With her four nuclear submarines in the south Atlantic, she's threatening to unleash an atomic weapon against Argentina if I don't provide her with the secret codes that will make the missiles we sold the Argentinians deaf and blind..”

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/nov/22/books.france

    Sep 29th, 2011 - 04:26 pm 0
  • xbarilox

    “Argentine scientists have never used their neurons to destroy the lives of other beings. We are peaceful people, good people, not everyone can say that” there it goes again, the victimization again and again and again. We are good people and the other people are bad. The damage that this woman and her followers are doing to Argentina will last for centuries. Resentment, hatred and victimization, what a combo!!!

    @ 1 it was a war, what did you expect? stop trying to look like victims, argentina is certainly not a victim. When you do something to people, people will do something to you, get it right for once in your life.

    Sep 29th, 2011 - 04:45 pm 0
  • so_far

    #2

    what i expect ? i suppose what ever regular human being could expect....no country must use nuclear power against other.

    Im pretty sure is mandatory rule for any civilized leader.....

    remember the topic of the article ?

    ”Argentina is leader in the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.”

    Sep 29th, 2011 - 05:08 pm 0
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