A call for investors to buy bonds in a fund that will be used for projects at the Atucha nuclear power station in Buenos Aires province, Argentina raised $93m, or 16% more than the target.
Nucleoelectrica Argentina, the state-owned company that operates Argentina’s nuclear facilities, said the NA-SA iV Public Infrastructure Solidarity Financial Trust will be used for the 20-year lifetime extension of the Atucha-1 nuclear plant and the construction of a second dry storage facility for spent fuel elements from the Atucha Site.
The operating licence for Atucha-1, which began commercial operation in 1974, is due to expire in 2024. Nucleoelectrica also plans to increase the unit’s installed capacity from 362 MW to 370 MW. The plant will be taken offline for 30 months so the long-term operation and uprate work can be carried out.