Wedoany.com Report-Jun 3, An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team has concluded a six-day Site and External Events Design (SEED) mission to El Salvador, which is evaluating two candidate sites for its first nuclear power plant. The mission took place from 26 to 31 May and was requested by the government of El Salvador. It was hosted by the Organisation for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Programme in El Salvador (OIPEN) and the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (CEL).

The mission team visiting one of the candidate sites

The SEED safety review service supports IAEA Member States at various stages of nuclear power development. It includes optional modules that address aspects such as site selection, assessment, and the design of key infrastructure against external hazards. This mission specifically reviewed El Salvador’s compliance with IAEA guidance on site selection.

The SEED team consisted of three experts from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with two IAEA staff members. They assessed the selection process, siting criteria, and related data. The team visited two proposed sites: Chalatenango, located about 40 kilometers northeast of San Salvador, and San Vicente, approximately 70 kilometers to the east of the capital.

The IAEA also conducted a SEED Capacity Building Workshop to support El Salvador in advancing from site selection to site characterisation. This workshop facilitated technical discussions between international experts and local participants, aimed at enhancing future site evaluation processes.

Mission team leader Kazuyuki Nagasawa, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA, stated: “We confirmed that CEL independently developed exclusion criteria for site screening and effectively narrowed down the areas of the country with the lowest external hazard risks. This can be considered a good practice for minimizing risks.”

The team provided recommendations to enhance and refine the site selection methodology, with a focus on reducing the possibility of disqualification during the characterisation phase. Factors such as seismic activity, flooding, and volcanic risks were emphasized, along with the need to align site characteristics with design features, safety measures, and administrative planning.

Daniel Alvarez, President of CEL and Honorary Director of OIPEN, said: “From the early stages of the site selection process, we have been guided by the technical guidance of the IAEA, rigorously applying its physical safety standards to ensure that this process follows a technical, transparent and responsible approach for all Salvadorans.”

El Salvador is aiming to diversify its energy mix by incorporating nuclear power, which is intended to provide a reliable and low-emission energy source for economic growth. The government is completing the site selection based on a structured method that includes geospatial analysis, national regulations, and available infrastructure.

The final SEED mission report will be submitted to the Salvadoran government within three months. OIPEN and CEL will continue to receive IAEA support as the project moves into the next phase.