Cable 
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R 221953Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9773
INFO DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS LIMA 001945 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
COMMERCE FOR 4331/MAC/WH/MCAMERON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG TRGY BEXP BTIO PE
 
SUBJECT: PERU: NO PLANS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY 
 
REF: STATE 127423 
 
¶1.  In response to reftel, Post notes that Peru has a civilian 
nuclear authority and a small nuclear program geared to specialized 
research (health, agriculture, etc.), but no plans to pursue nuclear 
energy.  This was confirmed on December 16 by the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs.  With oil and gas reserves and extensive 
exploration -- as well as numerous alternative energy sources that 
include hydro, thermal, wind, and biofuels -- nuclear energy is not 
an attractive option for Peru at the moment.  Below are Post's 
responses to reftel questions. 
 
Overview of Civil Nuclear Power Program 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  There are not any current plans to pursue nuclear power in Peru. 
 Some uranium has been found in the southern region of Puno (1,800 
metric tons "reasonably assured" in IAEA terms), and private 
companies are currently exploring in Puno.  GOP research indicates 
that there may also be uranium in the Oxapampa region. 
 
¶3.  The main GOP nuclear institution is the Peruvian Institute for 
Nuclear Energy (IPEN, www.ipen.gob.pe), which has a number of 
facilities.  The largest of these is the Huarangal Nuclear Center 
located on a 125-hectare area 42 km from the city of Lima. 
Inaugurated in 1989, this center is apparently the most recent one 
built in the Latin America and Caribbean Region.  In this Center, 
IPEN has the following compounds: 
 
- Nuclear reactor RP-10:  A nuclear reactor with 10MW of thermal 
potency with Uranium 235 at its core.  The reactor is surrounded by 
a concrete building.  The main uses for this reactor are 
radioisotope production for medical and industrial use, material 
analysis by non destructive techniques, analysis of the structure 
and chemical composition of diverse materials, research of physical 
phenomena at the atomic level and its nucleus, and development of 
security criteria and radioprotection. 
 
- Physics Experimental Reactor Laboratory 
 
- Science Laboratory 
 
- Radioisotope Production Plant 
 
- Secondary laboratory for Dosimetric Calibrations, and 
 
- Plant for Radioactive Residuals Management. 
 
¶4.  IPEN also has Executive Offices, a reactor RP-0 with Zero 
Potency (which operates at a potency in the range of 1-10 V and is 
mainly used for research and training), and the Center for Nuclear 
Superior Studies (CSEN). 
 
¶5.  IPEN also has a Center for Nuclear Medicine located within the 
GOP's main Cancer treating hospital facility (INEN).  The Center for 
Nuclear Medicine develops research activities, provides services for 
patients from the INEN, and serves as a knowledge based tool for 
both public and private physicians in these areas. 
 
¶6.  Finally, IPEN has a Multiple Use Irradiation Plant (PIMU), in 
which products are treated mainly for microbionic decontamination 
and radiosterilization. 
 
¶7.  IPEN is a decentralized entity under the Ministry of Energy and 
Mines.  The main authorities of IPEN are its President, Dr. Conrado 
Seminario Arce (cseminario@ipen.gob.pe) and its Executive Director, 
Ing. Ivan Llamas Montoya (illamas@ipen.gob.pe).  The GOP's National 
Council for Science, Technology and Technical Innovation (CONCYTEC) 
is another important stakeholder in this sector.  The President of 
CONCYTEC is Dr. Augusto Mellado Mendez (amellado@concytec.gob.pe). 
The Minister of Energy and Mines is Ing. Pedro Sanchez Gamarra. 
 
¶8.  IPEN is the GOP entity in charge of regulating, promoting, 
supervising, and developing the activities derived from nuclear 
energy.  The IPEN serves as the national authority, ensuring the 
compliance of current norms, regulations and guidelines geared 
towards the safe functioning of nuclear and radioactive facilities. 
These functions are based on Law 28028 as well as the 
recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 
IPEN has approximately 220 employees currently working in its 
facilities. 
 
¶9.  The only laws pertaining to nuclear energy are those related to 
the creation and regulations for the organization and functions of 
IPEN. 
 
¶10.  Through its Center for Nuclear Superior Studies (CSEN), IPEN is 
able to train and prepare individuals in the different areas of 
Nuclear Sciences.  It is responsible for promoting, directing and 
 
executing academic programs in coordination with public and private 
academic institutions.  CSEN's main functions are to promote, 
propose and implement courses, seminars, conferences, and other 
academic events geared towards spreading Science and Nuclear 
Technologies.  The CSEN trains individuals both from public and 
private companies and has also developed Master's programs in 
coordination with universities.  There are currently eleven Master's 
Programs available:  Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Chemistry, Nuclear 
Energy (6), and Medical Physics (3). 
 
Opportunities for U.S. Industry 
& Foreign Competitors 
------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  Peru does not have any current or anticipated nuclear-related 
tenders.  There are no private sector competitors. 
MCKINLEY 
 
 
NNNN 
 



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