Argentina advances uranium mine restart to support nuclear power program

The Argentine government is incorporating the resumption of domestic uranium mining into its nuclear energy development plan. The government of Javier Milei proposed a nuclear program in June this year, covering uranium resource development, support for the operation of existing nuclear power units, and the construction of modular reactors.

Argentina has a long history of uranium mining. According to data, the Huemul uranium mine in Mendoza Province operated from 1955 to 1975, and the Sierra Pintada uranium mine operated from 1975 to 1997. Since then, Argentina has relied mainly on imports for the uranium fuel needed to operate its nuclear power plants. Currently, nuclear power accounts for about 7% of the country's electricity generation.

Argentine official data shows that the country has identified recoverable uranium resources of 34,250 tonnes. Mario Capello, former Deputy Secretary of Mining Development and a mining engineer, stated that Argentina's proven and reasonably assured resources could meet domestic demand for about 41 years; if inferred resources are included, the total approaches 35,000 tonnes, equivalent to about 140 years of demand for the country's three reactors.

According to data from Argentina's Mining Secretariat, there are currently 21 uranium projects nationwide, distributed across Chubut, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, and Santa Cruz provinces, at varying stages of progress. One of the key priorities of Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) is to promote the restart of the Sierra Pintada uranium mine in Mendoza Province and the Cerro Solo uranium mine in Chubut Province.

At the corporate level, relevant projects include the Laguna Salada uranium project in Chubut Province involving Canada's Jaguar Uranium, and the Ivana–Amarillo Grande uranium project in Río Negro Province advanced by Canada's Blue Sky Uranium. Some projects have already undergone preliminary economic assessments and are regarded as among the more advanced uranium resource development initiatives in Argentina.

Ignacio Celorrio, a representative of Argentina's uranium industry chamber, said that some uranium projects previously explored in the past are regaining development appeal. Andrés Villarreal, mining partner at the law firm Martínez de Hoz & Rueda, believes that uranium, as fuel for nuclear reactors, is closely linked to the energy transition and energy security; in addition to meeting domestic supply, Argentina may also develop uranium processing capacity for export.

Beyond uranium resource development, Argentina is also advancing reactor projects. Argentine company Meitner Energy announced on July 7 that it plans to build a modular nuclear reactor project in Argentina, with an investment of approximately US$1.2 billion.