Atucha I Nuclear Power Plant

Atucha I nuclear power plant
Location of Atucha I nuclear power plant in Argentina
Official name	Central Nuclear Juan Domingo Perón
Country	Argentina
Location	Lima, Buenos Aires
Coordinates	33°57′48″S 59°11′11″W / 33.96333°S 59.18639°W / -33.96333; -59.18639Coordinates: 33°57′48″S 59°11′11″W / 33.96333°S 59.18639°W / -33.96333; -59.18639
Status	Operational
Construction began	1968
Commission date	1974
Construction cost	$1.3 Billion
Operator(s)	Nucleoelectrica Argentina
Nuclear power station
Reactor type	PHWR
Reactor supplier	Siemens
Power generation
Make and model	Siemens
Thermal capacity	1,179 MWt
Nameplate capacity	357 MW

Atucha I is one of three operational nuclear power plants of Argentina. It is located in the town of Lima, Zárate, Buenos Aires Province, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Buenos Aires, on the right-hand shore of the Paraná de las Palmas River.

The plant is a pressurized heavy-water reactor (PHWR). It employs a mixture of natural uranium and enriched uranium (0.85% of ²³⁵U), and uses heavy water for cooling and neutron moderation. It has a thermal power of 1,179 MWt, and generates 357 MWe of electricity, which is delivered at 220 kilovolts to the Argentine Interconnection System, supplying about 2.5% of the total electricity production (2005).

Atucha I was started in 1968 and began operation in 1974; it was the first nuclear power plant in Latin America. In 1973, before its completion, the plant was temporarily captured by guerrillas, who later withdrew.