International experts validate progress and offer recommendations to optimize first nuclear energy project in the country.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded a Site and External Event Design Review Service (SEED) mission to assess El Salvador’s site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP). The mission, conducted from May 26 to 31, marks a critical step in the country’s effort to introduce safe and sustainable nuclear energy.
According to the IAEA, El Salvador has applied a comprehensive methodology that includes geospatial data analysis, national regulations, and existing public infrastructure to determine the most favorable site. International experts from Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and IAEA headquarters evaluated the site selection report, the data collection process, and visited potential locations in Chalatenango (40 km from the capital) and San Vicente (70 km east of San Salvador).
“We confirm that CEL [Lempa River Hydroelectric Executive Commission] independently developed exclusion criteria to minimize risk from external hazards. This is a good practice for risk mitigation,” stated Kazuyuki Nagasawa, IAEA Senior Nuclear Security Officer and mission leader.
The mission’s findings confirmed adherence to IAEA safety guidelines, while offering recommendations to optimize the site selection process. These include enhancing the evaluation of seismic, flooding, and volcanic risks, and aligning site features with design specifications, protection measures, and administrative processes from the earliest planning stages.
Daniel Álvarez, president of CEL and director of the Organization for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program in El Salvador (OIPEN), emphasized the country’s commitment to a transparent and technically rigorous process, guided by IAEA protocols and focused on physical security and public accountability.
“From the beginning, we have based our process on IAEA technical guidance to ensure a secure, transparent approach that benefits all Salvadorans,” Álvarez said.
The IAEA reaffirmed its ongoing technical support for OIPEN and CEL as El Salvador moves from site selection to the implementation phase of its nuclear energy project. This initiative positions the country to diversify its energy mix while advancing toward a clean and reliable energy future.
