PERU: NO PLANS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY

UNCLAS LIMA 001945 SIPDIS COMMERCE FOR 4331/MAC/WH/MCAMERON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG TRGY BEXP BTIO PE SUBJECT: PERU: NO PLANS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY REF: STATE 127423 ¶1. In response to reftel, Post notes that Peru has a civilian nuclear authority and a small nuclear program geared to specialized research (health, agriculture, etc.),but no plans to pursue nuclear energy. This was confirmed on December 16 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With oil and gas reserves and extensive exploration -- as well as numerous alternative energy sources that include hydro, thermal, wind, and biofuels -- nuclear energy is not an attractive option for Peru at the moment. Below are Post's responses to reftel questions. Overview of Civil Nuclear Power Program -------------- ¶2. There are not any current plans to pursue nuclear power in Peru. Some uranium has been found in the southern region of Puno (1,800 metric tons "reasonably assured" in IAEA terms),and private companies are currently exploring in Puno. GOP research indicates that there may also be uranium in the Oxapampa region. ¶3. The main GOP nuclear institution is the Peruvian Institute for Nuclear Energy (IPEN, www.ipen.gob.pe),which has a number of facilities. The largest of these is the Huarangal Nuclear Center located on a 125-hectare area 42 km from the city of Lima. Inaugurated in 1989, this center is apparently the most recent one built in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. In this Center, IPEN has the following compounds: - Nuclear reactor RP-10: A nuclear reactor with 10MW of thermal potency with Uranium 235 at its core. The reactor is surrounded by a concrete building. The main uses for this reactor are radioisotope production for medical and industrial use, material analysis by non destructive techniques, analysis of the structure and chemical composition of diverse materials, research of physical phenomena at the atomic level and its nucleus, and development of security criteria and radioprotection. - Physics Experimental Reactor Laboratory - Science Laboratory - Radioisotope Production Plant - Secondary laboratory for Dosimetric Calibrations, and - Plant for Radioactive Residuals Management. ¶4. IPEN also has Executive Offices, a reactor RP-0 with Zero Potency (which operates at a potency in the range of 1-10 V and is mainly used for research and training),and the Center for Nuclear Superior Studies (CSEN). ¶5. IPEN also has a Center for Nuclear Medicine located within the GOP's main Cancer treating hospital facility (INEN). The Center for Nuclear Medicine develops research activities, provides services for patients from the INEN, and serves as a knowledge based tool for both public and private physicians in these areas. ¶6. Finally, IPEN has a Multiple Use Irradiation Plant (PIMU),in which products are treated mainly for microbionic decontamination and radiosterilization. ¶7. IPEN is a decentralized entity under the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The main authorities of IPEN are its President, Dr. Conrado Seminario Arce (cseminario@ipen.gob.pe) and its Executive Director, Ing. Ivan Llamas Montoya (illamas@ipen.gob.pe). The GOP's National Council for Science, Technology and Technical Innovation (CONCYTEC) is another important stakeholder in this sector. The President of CONCYTEC is Dr. Augusto Mellado Mendez (amellado@concytec.gob.pe). The Minister of Energy and Mines is Ing. Pedro Sanchez Gamarra. ¶8. IPEN is the GOP entity in charge of regulating, promoting, supervising, and developing the activities derived from nuclear energy. The IPEN serves as the national authority, ensuring the compliance of current norms, regulations and guidelines geared towards the safe functioning of nuclear and radioactive facilities. These functions are based on Law 28028 as well as the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IPEN has approximately 220 employees currently working in its facilities. ¶9. The only laws pertaining to nuclear energy are those related to the creation and regulations for the organization and functions of IPEN. ¶10. Through its Center for Nuclear Superior Studies (CSEN),IPEN is able to train and prepare individuals in the different areas of Nuclear Sciences. It is responsible for promoting, directing and executing academic programs in coordination with public and private academic institutions. CSEN's main functions are to promote, propose and implement courses, seminars, conferences, and other academic events geared towards spreading Science and Nuclear Technologies. The CSEN trains individuals both from public and private companies and has also developed Master's programs in coordination with universities. There are currently eleven Master's Programs available: Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Chemistry, Nuclear Energy (6),and Medical Physics (3). Opportunities for U.S. Industry & Foreign Competitors -------------- ¶11. Peru does not have any current or anticipated nuclear-related tenders. There are no private sector competitors. MCKINLEY NNNN End Cable Text