Nuclear energy in Mexico: history and prospects

Mexico, a country located in North America, is rich in diversified energy resources. Electricity generation in Mexico comes from a variety of sources, including fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear power. According to 2019 data, the breakdown of electricity generation in Mexico is as follows: 78.6% fossil fuels, 18.7% renewables (hydro, wind, solar) and 2.7% nuclear power [1].

Mexico currently has just one nuclear power plant, Laguna Verde, which supplies around 2.7% of the country’s electricity. However, Mexico is actively exploring new opportunities to develop nuclear power and meet the growing demand for electricity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Future projects could include the construction of new reactors, particularly advanced modular reactors, as well as international cooperation for the development of innovative nuclear technologies.

History of nuclear power generation in Mexico

The history of nuclear power generation in Mexico dates back to the creation of the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) in 1956 [2]. Mexico then joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1957 [3]. The country began exploring nuclear power as a source of electricity in the 1960s and 1970s, with feasibility studies and research projects.

Mexico’s first and only nuclear power plant, the Laguna Verde plant, went into service in 1990 with the Unit 1 reactor, followed by Unit 2 in 1995 [4]. The Laguna Verde plant is located in the state of Veracruz and has a total capacity of 1,640 megawatts of electricity (MWe) [4]. These two reactors supply around 2.7% of the country’s electricity [1].

Nuclear reactor technologies used in Mexico

The reactors at Laguna Verde are American-designed boiling water reactors (BWRs) [4]. BWRs use light water as moderator and coolant. In these reactors, water is brought to the boil in the reactor core, and the steam produced is used to directly power a steam turbine that generates electricity [5].

Innovative power plant and reactor projects

Mexico has several projects underway to develop new nuclear power plants and innovative reactor technologies. In 2007, the Mexican government announced its intention to study the possibility of building new nuclear reactors to meet growing electricity demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions [6]. However, these projects have been delayed due to economic and political factors.

In 2018, the IAEA conducted a nuclear infrastructure assessment mission in Mexico, which concluded that the country had strengthened its regulatory capabilities and developed nuclear safety competencies [7]. The evaluation also encouraged Mexico to continue its efforts to establish a solid national framework for nuclear energy.

Discussions are underway regarding the construction of new nuclear reactors in Mexico, and the country has expressed an interest in Advanced Modular Reactor Technologies (ARMT) [8]. ARMTs are small reactors (generally less than 300 MWe) and offer potential advantages in terms of safety, flexibility and reduced construction costs.

Mexico is also cooperating with other countries and international organizations to develop innovative nuclear technologies. For example, Mexico signed an agreement with China in 2015 to strengthen cooperation in nuclear research and advanced reactor development [9].

List of nuclear reactors in Mexico

Reactor nameTechModelMweTWhTextConstructionStartGridConnecDismantlingLoad factor
LAGUNAVERDE-1BWRBWR-5780152.82MEXICOsept. 1976apr. 198978.5%
LAGUNAVERDE-2BWRBWR-5780137.07MEXICOjune 1977nov. 199480.8%

Countries producing nuclear power

  1. United States: 94,718 GW
  2. France: 61,370 GW
  3. China: 53,170 GW
  4. Russia: 27,727 GW
  5. South Korea: 24,489 GW
  6. Japan: 16,321 GW
  7. Canada: 13,624 GW
  8. Ukraine: 13,107 GW

References