A high-level delegation from the Government of El Salvador, led by Daniel Álvarez, director of the Organization for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program (OIPEN), visited the Almaraz nuclear power plant in Spain on April 1. The visit marked a significant step in El Salvador’s ambitious plan to build the first nuclear power plant in Central America.
During the visit, Salvadoran representatives met with the management of Centrales Nucleares Almaraz-Trillo and toured key areas of the facility, including the control room, turbine building, diesel generator, and Individualized Temporary Storage (ATI 20). They received detailed technical information on the operation of the plant, which has been recognized as a model of excellence by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).
According to the Spanish Nuclear Forum, Almaraz I is built on an area of 1,683 hectares. The first land movements began in 1972, and commercial service commenced on September 1, 1983. A second unit was added on July 1, 1984, with 81% of its construction carried out by Spanish companies. The plant’s energy production reached 699,254 MWh in February 2025, with an accumulated output of 1,474,321 MWh for the year. In 2023, both units of the Almaraz nuclear plant generated a total of 16,927.28 GWh.
The Salvadoran delegation shared details of their nuclear energy program, which aligns with President Nayib Bukele’s strategy to diversify the country’s energy matrix and invest in cleaner, more sustainable generation technologies. As part of this initiative, El Salvador plans to train 400 professionals in atomic energy and launch a research reactor by 2030, a crucial step before constructing a full-scale nuclear power plant.
The legal foundation for this transformation was laid in October 2024 when the Legislative Assembly approved the Nuclear Energy Promotion Law, paving the way for the development of this new energy source.
El Salvador aims to be a pioneer in the peaceful use of nuclear energy in a region where no similar projects currently exist.