The Atucha II nuclear power plant—a 745-MW pressurized heavy water reactor located in Lima, in Argentina’s Buenos Aires province—was synchronized to the Argentine electrical grid on June 27.
Construction on the plant began in 1981, but was halted from 1994 until the government re-launched the Argentine nuclear program in 2006. At the time, expectations were for the plant to begin operation by 2010.
The plant shares a site with the Atucha I nuclear plant, which began commercial operation in 1974 and recently celebrated 40 years of service. In addition to the Atucha reactors, Argentina is also home to the Embalse Nuclear Power Station—located near the city of the same name in the province of Córdoba—which began operation in 1983.
Atucha II will continue to slowly increase load with expectations of reaching full capacity by November.
