A new Nuclear Energy Law was approved with 57 votes, establishing stringent guidelines for anyone seeking to engage in activities related to nuclear and radioactive installations, materials, and substances. The law mandates that any individual or entity must submit an application to the newly created Nuclear Energy Regulation Directorate, part of the General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons, and Mines.
These applications will cover activities such as site selection, design, construction, or operation of nuclear facilities, as well as the transportation, disposal of waste, and the import or export of radioactive materials.
Daniel Álvarez, Director of Energy, explained that while the initial management will be handled by the state, he did not specify if private investment will be allowed later. His comments followed a question from opposition MP Claudia Ortiz, who voted against the law, criticizing it as a “shell” to present a “novel project.” Álvarez emphasized that globally, nuclear energy projects are initially state-run due to strict regulations on handling nuclear materials.
The law also establishes a Nuclear Emergency Committee, which includes various ministries, the National Police (PNC), and Civil Protection, among others. The PNC will collaborate with the new Nuclear Energy Control and Supervision Directorate.
Penalties under the law range from $10,000 to 10% of the final cost of the authorized nuclear installation and may result in license revocation. There are also civil liability provisions for environmental or human harm, with a minimum of $150 million in damages, supplemented by the state to a total of $300 million.
The law, which sparked debate in the legislature over its benefits and risks, will take effect one year after publication in the Official Gazette. However, there is no deadline for the president to issue regulations for its implementation.
The Energy Directorate is collaborating with governments from Argentina, the U.S., Spain, and South Korea to train 400 professionals in nuclear energy and safety. According to Álvarez, the goal is to have the country’s first nuclear reactor, intended for research purposes, within seven years—without spending “a single dollar” of state funds.