Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN) and Russian state company Rosatom have signed two contracts, marking a step ahead in commencing construction of the proposed nuclear research and technology center (NRTC) in the Plurinational, Bolivia.
ABEN signed a contract with Rosatom’s unit ASE Group for providing preliminary site survey for the construction of the NRTC project.
The second contract was signed with JSC Rusatom Service, a integrator of Rosatom’ service offerings, for the national nuclear infrastructure assessment for the development of NRTC project.
Rosatom State Atomic Energy corporate development and international business first deputy CEO Kirill Komarov said: “The site survey means direct access to the site in order to collect data needed for the design and construction of the facility.”
The contracts are part of the intergovernmental agreement signed in March between Russia and Bolivia on cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy and in construction of the NRTC.
In future, Rosatom expects to sign a construction contract for the nuclear research center and also a contract on a package of life cycle services for the project.
Bolivia plans to use the NRTC to train the highly-qualified personnel in the country’s nuclear industry.
The center will also allow for development of nuclear technologies and apply them in science, healthcare, geology, agriculture, and other human activity areas.
Russia currently operates over 20% of all the research reactors in the world.