A new beginning? Obstacles and debates at the relaunch of the Argentine Nuclear Program (1999-2015)

Abstract

In the 1990's, experts predicted that a ‘Nuclear Renaissance’ would take place in the 21st century, bringing nuclear energy back onto public agendas. This forecast was based on the increase in energy consumption in some Asian countries and the rise in oil prices. In this context, Argentine governments tried to relaunch the nuclear program, which had been paralyzed in 1994. After the recovery from the economic crisis of 2001 and the increase in electricity demand, the energy supply became a crucial aspect of public policies. However, it soon became clear that it was not an easy task. Through the analysis of official legislation, institutional sources and interviews, this paper will explore the main milestones of the relaunch of the Argentine Nuclear Program, as well as the limitations of such planning. We propose that after 2003 the government redefined the role of the actors without questioning the institutional panorama inherited from 1994 and paying little attention to the structural transformations that the sector had undergone after the 1990s. Although a nuclear program for the medium and long term was outlined, said planning was based on immediate political considerations rather than a strategic perspective. That’s why certain objectives, such as the installation of a fourth nuclear power plant or the promotion of the local industry, could not be sustained in the long term.