2011: President Chavez Stopped Venezuela’s Nuclear Energy Program

Venezuela’s plans for a nuclear energy program were first announced in November 2008, when Chavez revealed that Venezuelan and Russian experts had begun developing a bi-lateral nuclear accord to be discussed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Venezuela later that month [1]. Having formally negotiating the nuclear accord with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in April 2010, six months later in October 2010 in Moscow, Chavez and Medvedev officially signed an agreement for the Russian state nuclear power company, Rosatom, to build two 1,200 megawatt nuclear reactors. [1] The timing on the deal was vague, and it was unclear whether the cost and scientific expertise for a nuclear program were outside of Venezuela’s reach. [2] Sergie Kiriyenko, the chief executive of Rosatom, left open a wide range of possibilities for when Russia might begin work on a new nuclear power plant. “It could be in ten years; it could be sooner.” [2]

President Obama commented on the agreement by recognizing that although” Venezuela has rights to develop nuclear power”, the Chavez Administration “must ensure that these systems are not turned into weapons.” [2][3] Representative Connie Mack (R-Fla.) said that “Hugo Chavez is not a man who can be trusted with nuclear energy” [3].

A major accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant occurred on March 11,2011, following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The tsunami damaged the plant’s cooling systems, leading to a loss of power and the inability to cool the reactors. Three of the six reactors suffered core meltdowns. This resulted in hydrogen explosions which released radioactive materials. 150, 000 residents were evacuated.

On March 17, 2011, President Chavez said that he had stopped plans to develop a nuclear energy program in light of the crisis in Japan [4]. Chavez said events in Japan showed the dangers of developing nuclear power were too great. “It is something extremely risky and dangerous for the whole world,” he said [4].

1.Venezuela’s Chavez Halts Nuclear Energy Program Following Japan Crisis, Venezuelanalysis, March 17, 2011

2. New York Times, Russia Plans Nuclear Plant in Venezuela, October 15, 2010.

3.Inter-American Dialogue, Q and A: What Are the Implications of Venezuela’s Nuclear Ambitions? November 30, 2010

4. BBC, Hugo Chavez calls off Venezuela’s nuclear energy plans, March 17, 2011

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