The CAREM nuclear power plant is aimed at increasing the Argentine technological capacity in the nuclear field and developing the nation NPP export capacity, making use of favourable market conditions and enhancing Argentina insertion to this field.

The CAREM reactor is an advanced 27 MW electric-power-generation nuclear station, of inherent safety characteristics based on passive safety systems. It has a high level of intrinsic reliability, which translates into simple operation and maintenance.

In view of its simple design and low power, the reactor presents few operational requirements and calls for a limited support structure, which makes it apt for electricity generation and other applications in cities of up to 100,000 inhabitants.

The design was developed by INVAP under contract with the Argentine "Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA)".

Feasibility studies show that it is possible to expand the CAREM concept through the incorporation of minor engineering changes to a power of 300 MWe, with installation costs economically competitive with respect to other sources of similar importance. This makes it especially attractive in the electricity generation market of the developing world.

International nuclear market projections show a progressive rise in the demand of electricity and power reactors for the next years. A large share of this market is comprised by countries with small or null development in nuclear generation as well as other applications in isolated areas that are interested in Small and Medium size Reactors (SMR). To date, this demand has not been adequately met.

This represents a unique opportunity that will allow Argentina to strengthen its technological and commercial leadership in the nuclear field, achieved through the exportation of research reactors, equipments and plants to different nations.

To make use of this opportunity, it is essential to build a prototype that may act as concept demonstration plant and grant Argentina a decisive advantage to conquer such market.

The CAREM reactor prototype is bound to be the starting point for a new series of export deals - as was the case of the RA-6 reactor built in Bariloche during the early 1980s, the basis of nuclear reactor and equipment exports to Algeria, Peru, Iran, Cuba, Egypt and, more recently, Australia.