A. M. The Government of El Salvador, through the Agency for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program (OIPEN), together with experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), officially inaugurated the first SEED Site Design and External Events Mission, an important and fundamental step to evaluate possible sites for the construction of a future nuclear power plant in the country.
The mission includes a team of high-level specialists and technicians from the IAEA, who have begun to develop a rigorous process of analysis and site selection, identifying potential areas for a nuclear facility, respecting parameters such as nuclear security and environmental protection.
“This is one of the most important steps of our nuclear program and we have the direct accompaniment of the IAEA, whose representatives have come to El Salvador to rigorously review all the sites that have been proposed. They have guided us under parameters, requirements, and recommendations with the highest safety standards of the Agency”, said Daniel Alvarez, president of CEL and ad honorem director of the Agency for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program in El Salvador.
To date, candidate sites have been identified that meet the established criteria of safety and technical feasibility, located in San Vicente and Chalatenango, areas that, according to our experts, have all the necessary characteristics to determine a potential site for the development of the future nuclear facility in the country.
The selection work is based on scientific, environmental, and social criteria, applied in a systematic and rigorous way to delimit the areas with favorable conditions.
The IAEA Site Mission carries out an analysis of the technical aspects that the country has considered to develop the site selection process, through a specialized review and with the accompaniment of international experts.
This international technical support not only strengthens the quality of the site selection process, but also reaffirms the country’s commitment to the responsible, safe, and transparent use of nuclear energy. It also allows to expand technical capabilities, identify opportunities for improvement aligned with international practices and generate public and institutional confidence in the project.
“The SEED mission aims to support the early identification and evaluation of sites, in order to detect external threats that could compromise the viability of a nuclear power plant”, explained José Bellini, a specialist from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who also said that hydrological and seismic risks are analyzed, among other external hazards that could directly impact the facility.
The experts focused their assessment on the geological characteristics of the area. They reviewed the conditions and assessed potential natural hazards that could affect the safety of the plant. In addition, they validated the previous studies conducted by the national technical team, ensuring that they were aligned with international and IAEA nuclear safety standards.
The technicians conducted an exhaustive analysis of accessibility and logistics, considering the proximity to the main communication routes and water sources, essential for the safe operation of the plant.
Thus, the selection process advances with solid technical bases and the endorsement of a specialized review, which guarantees a rigorous evaluation that complies with the highest standards of sustainability and protection.
In this way, El Salvador consolidates its path towards a new stage of energy development, supported by globally recognized tools and a strategic vision focused on autonomy, security and the well-being of future generations.
