Argentina’s nuclear utility, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA (NA-SA) has achieved a new milestone in the Spent Fuel Dry Storage Project (ASECG II – Almacenamiento en Seco de Elementos Combustibles Gastados II), which is already 38% complete, with the manufacture and arrival of a state-of-the-art gantry crane.
The equipment was developed by the Mendoza-based company IMPSA, based on a technical specification fully prepared by Nucleoeléctrica’s Project Management Department. The crane features an innovative design that will allow for the precise handling and positioning of the baskets containing used nuclear fuel during dry storage operations. Installation and commissioning of the equipment are scheduled for early 2026 and are expected to take four months.
Argentina’s nuclear industry is one of the most advanced in the region. The country has three NPPs – Embalse in Córdoba province, operational since 1983, and the Atucha Nuclear Complex, which encompasses Atucha 1&2 near the town of Lima in Buenos Aires province. All three are pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and together produce 10% of Argentina’s electricity.
Atucha I, Latin America’s first NPP is a 362 MWe PHWR) that began commercial operation in 1974 with a design life in its operating licence of 32 equivalent years of full power. The licence was first extended in 2018 to 2024 and it is now undergoing further life extension.
Atucha 2, a 693 MWe PHWR, was ordered in 1979. It was a Siemens design, a larger version of Atucha 1, and construction started in 1981 but was suspended in 1994 due to lack of funds with the plant 81% complete. Following governmental changes, it was completed in September 2011 and began operating at full power in February 2015.
ASECG II is an essential facility to ensure the future operation of Atucha 2 and to guarantee the responsible management of nuclear fuel. At Atucha 2, pool capacity is expected to be reached by December 2027, reinforcing the importance of advancing this project on schedule. The system design incorporates passive ventilation, which keeps temperatures within safe ranges without the need for electrical power or human intervention, enhancing long-term reliability.
Key civil works have already been completed. These include the high-strength concrete base where the silos will be installed. Construction is progressing on system components, including containers, shielded lids, and supporting steel structures. Nucleoeléctrica inaugurated a dry storage centre for used fuel in 2022 for Atucha 1. The joint investment in this project and ASECG II is valued at $700m.
