El Salvador has taken a major step toward incorporating nuclear power into its national grid following a successful week-long international assessment. An expert mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded that the nation has made significant progress in developing the necessary infrastructure to make an informed decision about launching a peaceful nuclear program, making it the first country in Central America to undergo this specialized review.
Currently, the country boasts a highly diversified energy matrix where 69% of its electricity already comes from renewable sources. However, official projections indicate that El Salvador’s power demand could double by the year 2050. To ensure a stable, climate-resilient, and low-emission grid, the government is strategically evaluating nuclear energy to supply roughly 15% of the nation’s total electricity within the next three decades.
The deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is at the heart of this long-term planning. The IAEA delegation—comprising experts from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and Egypt—praised El Salvador’s early evaluation of these advanced SMR technologies. They also highlighted the country’s proactive focus on technical education and its transparent, traceable system for documenting potential facility sites.
“El Salvador is committed to exploring nuclear energy in a responsible, safe, and transparent manner as part of its long-term energy strategy,” stated Eric Mathet, the IAEA mission leader. To ensure proper governance moving forward, the international team provided a set of recommendations focused on finalizing the country’s legal framework, boosting human resources, and refining nuclear safety and emergency response policies.
Local authorities view the evaluation as a validation of their rigorous preparatory work. Daniel Álvarez, head of the Lempa River Hydroelectric Executive Commission (CEL), described the mission as a historic milestone, noting it serves as “a demonstration of the country’s commitment to the responsible, transparent, and safe development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.” Moving forward, El Salvador and the IAEA will establish an integrated plan to coordinate continued international technical support.