Argentina, China embark on $15 billion nuclear deal

  • 18/11/2015
Argentinian Economy Minister Axel Kicillof (Reuters)
Argentinian Economy Minister Axel Kicillof (Reuters)

A Chinese state-owned company will finance and build two nuclear power plants in Argentina, the enterprise said, in a deal estimated to be worth nearly US$15 billion (NZ$23.15 billion).

China National Nuclear Corp will work with Argentina's state-owned company Nucleoelectrica to build the South American nation's fourth and fifth reactors, CNNC said in a statement posted on its website on Monday.

The agreement was reached over the weekend at the G20 summit in Turkey.

The Argentine government estimates the project will require US$15 billion in financing, Economy Minister Axel Kicillof said in a statement issued by the country's Ministry of Planning announcing the deal.

China will provide a portion of the financing for the projects through investment and bank loans at preferential rates, according to the official statement.

One reactor will use Canadian heavy-water technology, while the other will feature China's locally developed Hualong One reactor, CNNC said.

Chinese state-owned energy companies have been trying to promote its homegrown nuclear technology and strike energy deals worldwide.

In October, China vowed to take a one-third stake in Britain's first nuclear power plant in decades, and will provide US$9.1 billion in financing for the project hailed by Prime Minister David Cameron as a "historic deal".

AFP