Decolonizing Nuclear: Latin America’s Push for Sovereign Technology and Local Supply Chains

The global nuclear sector is entering a period of transformation, with nations increasingly seeking not just access to clean and reliable energy, but also greater autonomy over the technologies, resources, and supply chains that underpin their programs. In this context, Latin America is carving out a distinctive path. The region is actively working to decolonize nuclear energy—reducing dependence on external vendors and building sovereign capabilities that support long-term self-reliance. Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico anchor this effort, supported by emerging programs across the continent. Their strategies emphasize indigenous reactor design, local fuel cycle mastery, human resource development, and regional cooperation, all aimed at ensuring that Latin America evolves from being a consumer of nuclear technology into a provider.

The Evolving Nuclear Energy Landscape in Latin America

Latin America’s nuclear narrative blends established infrastructure with new initiatives and a shared commitment to peaceful use. Argentina operates three reactors—Atucha I (319 MWe), Atucha II (692 MWe), and Embalse (608 MWe). Brazil runs Angra 1 (609 MWe) and Angra 2 (1,275 MWe), while Mexico relies on Laguna Verde 1 (777 MWe) and Laguna Verde 2 (775 MWe). Collectively, these three countries form the backbone of nuclear power generation in the region.

Beyond them, nations like Cuba, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and El Salvador are exploring nuclear potential, with strong interest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The diversity of ambitions underscores that capacity development is essential for any broad-based expansion.

Human Resource Development and Knowledge Ecosystems

No nuclear program can thrive without a skilled workforce, and Latin America has invested heavily in education and knowledge-sharing. Argentina’s Instituto Balseiro (IB) and Brazil’s Nuclear Engineering Program (PEN) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro exemplify this commitment. Established in 1955, IB has trained generations of nuclear professionals, closely tied to the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA). Its graduates have been instrumental in Argentina’s ability to design indigenous reactors and fuel cycle facilities. Similarly, PEN has shaped Brazil’s nuclear expertise since 1972, evolving in tandem with national needs such as the Angra I project.

These institutions highlight a long-term policy of technological self-reliance, with education systems directly linked to national priorities. Complementing them is the Latin American Network for Education in Nuclear Technology (LANENT), which fosters collaboration, course exchanges, and student mobility. Through initiatives like the IAEA’s “Nucleando” program, nuclear concepts are introduced at primary and secondary school levels, ensuring that talent pipelines are nurtured early.

Training is not confined to technical education. The IAEA also supports regulatory training, with courses in Argentina focusing on safety and security. Moreover, “South-South” cooperation is a defining feature. Argentina and Brazil actively share expertise with newer entrants, reducing barriers for countries like El Salvador, which aims to train 400 nuclear specialists within seven years. This collaborative ecosystem ensures that the region develops not in isolation, but as a collective, resilient network less dependent on foreign vendors.

Capacity for Fuel Cycle, Heavy Water, and SMR Development

Latin America’s ambition for sovereignty is most evident in its pursuit of mastery over the nuclear fuel cycle and indigenous reactor design. Brazil has advanced uranium enrichment at its Resende Nuclear Fuel Factory, using domestically developed centrifuge technology. By 2018, with the addition of a seventh cascade of centrifuges, it achieved capacity to meet around 50% of Angra 1’s fuel needs, with plans to eventually supply Angra 1, 2, and 3. Although still reliant on international partners for uranium conversion, this step marks a crucial reduction in external dependency.

Argentina, meanwhile, holds a unique advantage in heavy water production. Its Neuquén plant, once the world’s largest, was re-commissioned with an annual capacity of 200 tonnes—critical for its Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). This capability not only secures Argentina’s domestic needs, estimated at 485 tonnes over the lifetime of its fleet, but also positions it as a supplier to PHWR-operating nations such as Canada, China, and India. Heavy water has thus become a high-value exportable asset.

Perhaps the boldest initiative is Argentina’s CAREM SMR project—a 25 MWe prototype entirely designed by CNEA. CAREM’s simplified pressurized water design, natural circulation cooling, and passive safety mechanisms mark it as a pioneering reactor with export potential. Despite construction delays caused by financial constraints, the project demonstrates Latin America’s capacity to innovate independently. Argentina’s ambition to commercialize SMRs and export them, alongside heavy water, illustrates a shift from technology recipient to provider, altering its role in global nuclear markets.

Regional Blocs and the Role in Technology Localization

Latin America’s pursuit of nuclear sovereignty is reinforced by regional integration frameworks such as MERCOSUR and CELAC. These blocs, while not primarily trade platforms for nuclear components, play vital roles in trust-building and diplomatic coordination.

The Argentina-Brazil partnership provides the cornerstone. After decades of rivalry, the two nations signed the Treaty of Guadalajara (1991), establishing the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC). ABACC is unique worldwide—a bilateral safeguards body that ensures both nations’ programs remain peaceful, complementing IAEA oversight. This unprecedented trust mechanism facilitates deeper cooperation in nuclear technology and sets a model for collaborative autonomy.

CELAC, on the other hand, provides a unified political stance. Rooted in the Treaty of Tlatelolco, CELAC consistently advocates for nuclear disarmament and peaceful use. This collective voice reassures global partners, reduces perceived risk, and strengthens the region’s ability to negotiate technology transfer. Agreements such as the China-CELAC Joint Action Plan explicitly include collaboration in civilian nuclear applications, practical projects, and talent training. By aligning political unity with technical ambition, CELAC provides an enabling environment for localization.

Latin America’s quest for nuclear autonomy has deep historical roots. Argentina long pursued mastery of the full fuel cycle, while Brazil responded to the U.S. withdrawal of enriched uranium supply in the 1970s by launching a parallel program that included indigenous centrifuge development and even a nuclear submarine project. These efforts left a legacy of valuable assets: Argentina’s PHWR and SMR designs, heavy water production capacity, and Brazil’s enrichment technology.

Today, these indigenous strengths are leveraged not only for domestic resilience but also for regional cooperation. Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico share expertise with El Salvador and Paraguay, creating a localized strategy that reduces dependence on external vendors. This “South-South” approach allows new entrants to build capacity through trusted regional partners.

Yet challenges persist. CAREM’s repeated halts and Brazil’s delayed Angra III highlight the vulnerabilities of relying solely on state funding in politically volatile environments. The lesson is clear: while autonomy is essential, sustainability requires hybrid strategies. Combining indigenous capabilities with carefully chosen international partnerships allows the region to balance sovereignty with financial stability and technology access.

This dual-track strategy positions Latin America as an active participant in the global nuclear industry—developing its own assets while engaging partners on favorable terms, ensuring that sovereignty does not come at the cost of viability.

Conclusions and Business Outlook

Latin America’s nuclear trajectory is defined by ambition, resilience, and a determination to decolonize its energy future. The region is not merely operating imported technology; it is mastering enrichment, producing heavy water, designing indigenous SMRs, and training its own scientists. These achievements place Latin America in a unique position to emerge as both a self-reliant energy player and a supplier of niche technologies in the global market.

For investors and nuclear companies, the opportunities are compelling. Argentina’s SMR and heavy water export potential, Brazil’s enrichment capacity, and the region’s openness to strategic partnerships create avenues for commercial engagement. The involvement of regional blocs like CELAC further reduces geopolitical risks, providing a stable platform for cooperation. Moreover, the emphasis on human capital ensures that these programs are not short-term experiments but long-term commitments.

The business case is clear: Latin America is not only securing its energy independence but also shaping itself into a hub for advanced nuclear technology and services. For global stakeholders, engaging with this dynamic region means accessing a market that is simultaneously growing, diversifying, and localizing—making it one of the most promising frontiers in the international nuclear industry.