The General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons and Mines (Dgehm) reported yesterday that the government’s goal is to have its first nuclear reactor in the next seven years, according to a report on the newspaper El Mundo.

In a forum organized by the Latin American Energy Organization (Olade), the director of Dgehm, Daniel Álvarez, assured that the commitment also includes the training of dozens of specialists in the field of nuclear energy.

We want to have the first research reactor by 2030, for which we are seeking to train 400 experts over a seven-year period’, said Álvarez.

In March 2023, the Directorate signed a cooperation agreement with Thorium Energy Alliance to explore the generation of nuclear energy with thorium fuel, the official added.

International organizations estimate that one ton of thorium can produce as much energy as 200 tons of uranium, or 3,500,000 tons of coal.

Last March, Alvarez and Vice Foreign Minister Adriana Mira presented the legal instruments to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the generation of nuclear energy.

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