The recent appointment of Demian Reidel as president of Nucleoeléctrica Argentina SA (NASA) is seen as a turning point for the country's nuclear sector. President Javier Milei has outlined a plan that includes the privatization of the state-owned company, the withdrawal of projects with the Chinese government , and the restructuring of the country on the global energy map, with a subservience to U.S. interests . This policy entails serious damage to energy sovereignty and creates external dependence .
The proposed nuclear plan is structured in three phases , beginning with the installation of four modular nuclear reactors at the Atucha complex. This measure emerges as an alternative to the acquisition of a large reactor using Chinese technology , a project that represented an opportunity for collaboration with a rising power.
By prioritizing a US-aligned approach, Milei's government is sacrificing advanced partnerships and a degree of political neutrality in its obsession with submitting to the mandates of the global power . This is happening in an international economic context of growing conflict and political tensions over geostrategic influences .
Moving away from cooperation with China not only implies a loss in terms of financing diversification and technological development, but also reflects a dependence on US decisions and interests.
This change, more than a modernization strategy, is a betrayal of the opportunities to diversify the economy and maintain a balanced political position that, until now, Argentina had historically maintained.
In the second phase of his plan, Milei aims to turn the country into an exporter of uranium and nuclear technology , a goal that may sound promising, but is fraught with risks because it perpetuates the dependence on foreign capital to sustain an essential industry, which leaves the country with little profit , generating a significant environmental impact and endangering the country's sovereignty .
Phase 3 includes the construction of a Nuclear City in Patagonia , designed to house data centers that meet the increasing demands of artificial intelligence.
Thus, while modernization in energy use is being proposed (to benefit major industries), corporate interests are being prioritized to the detriment of local communities , as is already happening in productive sectors that exploit natural resources.
Furthermore, the Argentine government's relationship with the United States endangers the country's security and autonomy . Being an " ally ," or rather a subservient country, will result in commitments that are not aligned with national interests (as is already happening), transforming Argentina into a mere energy supplier , rather than a sovereign player on the international stage .
By prioritizing privatization and ties with the U.S. , the government underestimates the importance of maintaining control over strategic resources and the need to diversify its international relations to avoid falling prey to the political games of foreign interests.
This approach not only compromises Argentina's energy sovereignty , but also puts the long-term well-being of its citizens at risk .
It is essential to consider whether the path taken by the government truly generates a collective benefit or, on the contrary, turns the country into a vehicle for foreign interests .
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