The Bolivian government and Rosatom Corporation announced Tuesday that the Centre for Nuclear Research and Technology in El Alto, scheduled to open in 2023, will be completed on time and will open up access to Bolivians to peaceful nuclear technology.
“Our commitment to the country is to continue this work and put the (nuclear centre) into operation as soon as possible”, – said Bolivian Energy Minister Rodrigo Guzmán after completing the inspection of the facilities, which also include the nuclear medicine centre, almost ready to open.
The deadline for putting the nuclear complex into operation in 2023 was confirmed by Sergei Musaelyan, the head of the CNS construction project, who also took part in the inspection of the construction site in El Alto, about 25 kilometers from La Paz.
On 12 February, the Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN) issued a statement that the Government was suspending the project to build the Rosatom Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology until Parliament and the country’s prosecutor’s office “pronounce themselves on the issue. Rosatom reported that it had not received official statements from Bolivia in this regard and that the State Corporation for its part is continuing the project. The Bolivian Ministry of Energy has requested information from ABEN to analyze and evaluate the project.
After the Bolivian opposition, led by Carlos Mesa, announced massive violations in the October 20 elections, President Evo Morales resigned from office and left the country under pressure from the military. He was followed by the resignation of the entire Bolivian top leadership, and the power went to the opposition Vice-Speaker of the Senate, Janine Agnès. The Bolivian Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) has scheduled general elections for May 3.