Paraguay has formally begun the process of incorporating nuclear energy into its energy matrix, with an official mission in Vienna, Austria, that brought together authorities from the Vice Ministry of Mines and Energy, the National Electricity Administration (ANDE), and Paraguay's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Juan Francisco Facetti.
During the visit, the Paraguayan delegation, led by ANDE President Félix Sosa and Vice Minister Mauricio Bejarano, held meetings with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and technical teams from the international agency. The goal was to lay the groundwork for a potential nuclear energy program in the country, focusing on technical cooperation and strengthening national capacities.
The process will be divided into three main phases, covering 19 fundamental milestones that include creating a robust regulatory framework, institutional strengthening, site studies, waste management, environmental protocols, and training specialized human resources.
ANDE experts, including engineers Guido Chávez and José Vallejos, presented the current situation of Paraguay's electricity sector, the existing legal framework, and technical considerations for developing a nuclear program. The work agenda included discussions on energy planning, small modular reactors (SMRs), grid suitability, financing, physical security, and radioactive waste management.
Vice Minister Bejarano emphasized that this first technical understanding agreement represents an important step in diversifying the country's energy matrix, complementing historic hydroelectric production with innovative sources to guarantee future supply. Nuclear energy is part of ANDE's master plan for the coming decades.