Bolivia plans $300 million research reactor

• 8 years ago (2015-10-30)

Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

---

Bolivian President, Evo Morales, also told reporters that the centre will include a cyclotron for radio-pharmaceuticals, and a multi-purpose gamma irradiation plant.

The project has drawn severe criticism from opposition politicians and has raised general fears about the environmental impacts of the project. However, Morales insisted that the project “poses no risk to humans or to … [the] Earth … It [will not] contaminate the ground, nor water, nor air.”

The government had initially planned to construct the new complex on the outskirts of La Paz, but public protests have instead made them choose a 50-acre site in El Alto, an industrial complex adjoining La Paz.

Bolivia has previously signed nuclear agreements with France and Argentina, but the work on the new agreement will be done in conjunction with the Russian state-owned nuclear power company, Rosatom . The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that it will help the Bolivians establish world-class security standards.