Paraguay and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation in civil nuclear energy, a move authorities call historic but which experts and lawmakers warn requires more solid institutional foundations in the country. The agreement was signed last week in Washington by Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Paraguayan Vice President Pedro Alliana in attendance.
Vice President Alliana revealed that one of the central objectives of the agreement is the exploration of uranium in Paraguayan territory. "We also talked about the agreement signed with the foreign minister, which really is a historic agreement, which has to do with nuclear issues and especially with exploration related to uranium," Alliana said in an interview with radio station 1020 AM. He also mentioned that US authorities expressed interest in strengthening investments in Paraguay's energy sector, with a visit from investors expected before the end of the year.
However, energy policy expert Victorio Oxilia assessed the agreement as a strategic "first step" but warned that Paraguay still lacks essential foundations for a nuclear program. "More important than an international cooperation agreement should be, first and foremost, the institutional framework," Oxilia emphasized. He highlighted the need for the country to define a national nuclear policy, strengthen institutions with a ministry dedicated to energy, and train specialized human resources before considering the incorporation of reactors.
On the political front, Senator José Oviedo of the Yo Creo movement submitted a request for information to the Executive Branch demanding details on the scope of the memorandum. The legislator questions the motivations for seeking nuclear energy when Paraguay's electricity grid is mostly renewable and expresses concern about sovereignty over mineral resources. Oviedo requested a full copy of the agreement and information on any links to a previous agreement on critical minerals, noting that Paraguay has certified uranium reserves in the department of Caazapá.
The understanding falls under the so-called Section 123 Agreement, a mechanism of US nuclear legislation that allows technological cooperation for peaceful purposes, following the safety and non-proliferation standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Similar agreements have been signed by the United States with countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Expert Oxilia warned that "the worst possible scenario would be to marry a technology without having evaluated options," given the complexity and high costs involved.