“Argentina needs to become an architect of the future, not a passive observer.”

by Demian Reidel, President of Nucleoelectrica Argentina

Argentina has embarked on two parallel and deeply connected technology projects that will put Argentina at the forefront of knowledge and position it as a driver of sustainable growth. The first is to transform the country into an artificial intelligence hub. Second, develop the following Generation of modular reactorsSMR (Small Modular Reactor). These reactors are the main players in the nuclear renaissance the world is experiencing.

The artificial intelligence revolution is transforming production, labor, and social organization. we are only at the beginning of the revolution deepest in human history. It is difficult to predict all the consequences, but one thing is clear. That means more computing power is required. For this reason, huge data centers are being built that can provide increasing processing power, so-called computing. Argentina is Ideal natural and technological conditions to become a regional and global computing hub.

The first concrete results came last month. OpenAI announced Stargate Argentina, a 500 MW data center. Foreign capital is 25 billion dollars. This is definitely an investment of historic scale. But it’s just the beginning.

We also know that there is not enough energy in today’s world to power the data centers needed for this new technological stage. This global deficit has caused many countries to once again Nuclear energy is the cleanest, most stable, and safest source of electricity generation. Humanity should never turn away from it. Argentina’s nuclear program is part of this recovery. This includes the development of a nationally designed modular reactor, the ACR-300, to meet both domestic supply and growing global demand for new nuclear reactors. this project Argentina has a strategic position on the world energy and technology map.

As William Gibson wrote, “The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed.” Argentina is not sitting idly by. She will be one of its architects.

In May 2024, President Javier Millay made a historic visit to Silicon Valley with the express purpose of meeting key technology leaders and convincing them that Argentina is returning to its rightful place among the developed world. The message was clear. The country has met exceptional conditions to become a true artificial intelligence hub. To become a hub, you need to build an infrastructure that has clean, stable energy, the scientific talent needed to design and train advanced models, and can process large amounts of information. It requires extensive engineering work, world-class data centers, and reliable energy networks. All this creates investment, qualified jobs and technology transfer.

During the tour, the president met with Sam Altman (OpenAI), Sundar Pichai (Google), Tim Cook (Apple), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), and others. He explained that the new economic direction aims to stabilize the macro and open the country to productive capital, and that Argentina has excellent human capital, large areas of land in a cold region, and Argentina’s unique advantages. It has access to energy, a predictable regulatory framework, and RIGI incentives for large-scale investments.

Communicating that vision in May 2024, when everything was just starting, wasn’t easy. However, this visit marked the beginning of a process of dialogue and negotiation that would bear fruit over time. As the economy stabilized and gained credibility, initial skepticism gave way to genuine interest. The first concrete result of that effort was the announcement of Stargate Argentina. A 500MW data center developed by OpenAI, the world’s most influential company in artificial intelligence, and a $25 billion investment in Patagonia. The project is also a vote of confidence that paves the way for other global companies to consider Argentina as a natural destination for their computing centers. This is the starting point of a new industry, the extent of which is still impossible to measure, but its relevance can no longer be disputed.

I can’t describe this project without mentioning Matt Travizzano. Matt and I organized this effort and organized a symbolic visit to Silicon Valley. We also thought about the demonstration that OpenAI gave to the president. Matt passed away in a tragic accident just a month before the announcement. He was my brother and his absence saddened my heart. This project is part of his legacy.

The artificial intelligence revolution will result in a significant increase in global energy demand. The world is not producing enough today to prepare for the future. Not only does it require more energy, it also needs to be clean, stable, and scalable. It is clean because development cannot be done at the expense of the planet. Large data centers require constant flow to function, so they are stable. It is scalable as the new digital economy increases demand to unprecedented levels.

The only energy source that meets these three conditions is nuclear power. Therefore, the world is experiencing a nuclear renaissance. The new phase revolves around a different generation of nuclear reactors: SMRs (Small Modular Reactors). It is safer, more compact, and can be installed in a variety of environments. There is a global race to control them, and those who succeed will gain a strategic advantage for decades.

Argentina has a history on this issue. In 1974 he commissioned Atucha I, Latin America’s first nuclear power plant. Later, Embalse and Atucha II arrived along with institutions such as CNEA, NA-SA, INVAP, and the Barceiro Institute. In the 1980s, the country exported research reactors and developed a first-class scientific community. That tradition is still alive and is key to this project. The Argentine Nuclear Energy Program, announced together with President Javier Millay and IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, aims to channel all the experience accumulated in this field into a specific goal: the development of ACR300.a nationally designed 300 MW modular nuclear reactor. The first module will be built within the Atucha complex. Once operational, it will provide stable energy for the power system and open up new export markets for Argentina’s nuclear industry.

Being one of the first countries to produce this technology could give the country a central role in the world’s energy boards. These two technological projects open completely new horizons for Argentina. But for these to become a reality, this country needs to be radically transformed. Economic stability, legal security, and respect for private property. This is the Argentina advocated by President Millais, who upholds the idea of ​​freedom.

still There’s still a long way to go. We need to intensify reforms, deepen structural change and ensure clear, predictable and durable rules of the game. Only stable institutions and an orderly economy can sustain a wave of innovation and development.

It is also important to avoid unnecessary regulations that stifle investment and creativity. This country has a historic opportunity to become a global center of energy and knowledge. It all depends on whether they can stay the course, maintain their confidence and find fertile ground for Argentina’s talent to grow.

Argentina is once again relying on what it has always had: knowledge, science and the will to turn them into sovereignty.The future is nuclear.