The United States, El Salvador, and Canada jointly hosted a regional workshop on nuclear energy innovation under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) initiative, reaffirming their commitment to global energy security and nuclear safety standards.
Held in El Salvador, the workshop brought together representatives from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru, alongside partners from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. Key discussions included regulatory development, licensing for small modular reactors (SMRs), stakeholder engagement, and deployment of SMRs in accordance with international safety, security, and nonproliferation norms.
U.S. Ambassador William Duncan commended El Salvador’s forward-looking approach:
“I want to recognize El Salvador for being so thoughtful and visionary in its approach to nuclear energy, which can be a great opportunity for development, but requires rigorous preparation, a trained workforce, and a solid regulatory framework.”
The workshop is part of a broader cooperation outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding on Civil Nuclear Energy, signed earlier this year by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill.
Amélie Geoffroy, Counselor at the Canadian Embassy, highlighted El Salvador’s legislative progress:
“The approval of the Nuclear Energy Law marks a key milestone. El Salvador plans to have a functional research reactor within seven years and aims to produce 26% of its energy from nuclear sources by 2035.”
Daniel Alejandro Álvarez Campos, director of El Salvador’s Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Agency (OIPEN), emphasized:
“We have the political will and institutional structure to responsibly integrate nuclear technologies in key sectors such as health, agriculture, and water management.”
According to the U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Ryan Taugher, SMRs will enable partner countries to meet their energy goals while deepening economic and security alliances.
The United States reaffirmed its support for job creation, sustainable development, and regional security through the responsible implementation of advanced nuclear energy technologies.