In the 2024-2025 biennium, Latin America has begun to experience what experts call a "nuclear renaissance." In light of the increasing vulnerability of hydroelectric systems due to extreme droughts and the urgency to meet decarbonization goals, nuclear energy is positioned as a key piece for regional development.
1. Energy Resilience and Supply Security
The electrical crises experienced in 2024 in countries like Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil have highlighted the risks of overly relying on variable sources. Nuclear energy offers a "firm" base source, capable of operating independently of weather conditions, thus complementing the intermittency of solar and wind renewables.
2. Decarbonization and Global Commitments
Following the agreements from COP28 in Dubai, where it was proposed to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050, the region seeks to integrate this technology to drastically reduce CO2 emissions in the industrial energy matrix.
3. Beyond Electricity: Social Applications
Regional development is not limited to watts. Nuclear technology directly impacts:
- Health: Strengthening cancer diagnosis and treatment through initiatives like Rays of Hope from the IAEA.
- Agriculture: Improving climate-resilient crops and biological pest control.
- Water Resources: Use of isotopic hydrology for the efficient management of freshwater.
4. Country Overview (2024-2025)
- Argentina: Maintains its leadership with the CAREM project, the first small modular reactor (SMR) of national design, and records in electricity generation.
- Brazil: Focused on the completion of Angra 3 and the development of microreactors for technological sovereignty.
- Ecuador and Colombia: Have made progress in legal frameworks and international agreements (IAEA and U.S.) to explore the implementation of SMRs.
5. Alliances and Financing
A key milestone has been the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the IAEA and CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) in September 2025, facilitating access to financing for nuclear infrastructure projects and technical cooperation.
Sources:
- Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), Energy Matrix Reports 2024-2025.
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Regional Cooperation Statements 2025.
- Bloomberg Línea, "The nuclear turn of South America in the face of the water crisis," 2025.
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