(November 29, 1996) On October 10, 1996, the constitution of the city of Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, was ratified. In Chapter Four of the constitution is a clear provision that Buenos Aires is a non- nuclear area. Living in the capital are 30 percent of the total Argentinian population of 34 million.
(462.4586) WISE-Rosario -Although the issue of nuclear energy is not one of the first preoccupations of the Argentinian people -- their concerns are above all the difficult economic situation, the increasing unemployment, the spread of the poverty, etc.-- there has been throughout the years actions in different places in the country to avoid the development of nuclear activities.
For instance, more than 100 municipalities in eight provinces have been declared to be nuclear-free zones in the last few years. And in six other provinces, restrictions have been imposed on any new nuclear installations (for instance a plan for a new nuclear power plant in Oliveros some years ago was abandoned). More recently, an important mobilization was held in the province of Chubut to prevent the creation of a nuclear waste site. (see also NC 443.4390 and NC 455.4501) The policy is to achieve a national consensus through local actions. These local actions always give rise to discussions on nuclear energy.
During this year, there was a debate on a new constitution for the city of Buenos Aires. Until this year, Buenos Aires was a federal district, seat of the national government without its own independence. It has been changed into an independent city. Political changes, a shift from liberal politics towards center- left, and political pressure from NGOs, made it possible that the new constitution be accepted.
In the text of the constitution is written the following:
"The city is a non-nuclear area. It is forbidden to produce nuclear energy, to import, elaborate, transport and maintain radioactive substances and/or waste. Special regulations and monitoring by competent authorities should be arranged for the management of waste from medical and industrial use and the civil research."
In reality this declaration is mainly of political importance, although it is now practically impossible to construct a nuclear power plant within the municipality. It can become important because this decision can be used as a tool: now the NGOs can initiate a debate on whether it is acceptable that with the capital being a nuclear-free zone, other parts of the country are not.
In Argentina two nuclear power plants are functioning (Atucha I and Embalse), and one is under construction (Atucha II) although with many difficulties. It is difficult to say where the generated energy from these plants is going as the utility is the same and manages other non-nuclear production facilities. WISE Rosario published a study on the Argentina energy market, the consequences and perspectives (Modelo energético, consecuencias y perspectivas) in which it analyzes the perspectives on energy production and use, and explains that the closure of the nuclear reactors offers no problem as new production facilities -- mainly hydraulic and turbo gas -- are planned in the next two years.
Concerning the problems of verification and control of the nuclear- free zone resolution, the biggest problem is that the enterprise charged with monitoring this (ENREN: Ente Regulador de la Energía Nuclear) is linked to the CNEA (Comision Nacional de Energía Atomica), which is also promoting nuclear energy development. Moreover, there is the possibility that the budget of ENREN will be reduced.
Source and Contact: Pablo Bertinat at WISE Rosario.
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