ASE Group, the engineering division of Rosatom and ABEN signed a contract for the preliminary site survey for the nuclear research center's construction, whereas JSC Rusatom Service, which integrates Rosatom’ service offerings, signed a contract for the national nuclear infrastructure assessment as part of the NRTC construction project's development.
"The contracts that were signed today mark the launch of actual work on the Center's construction. The site survey means direct access to the site in order to collect data needed for the design and construction of the facility," Kirill Komarov, the first deputy CEO for corporate development and international business at Rosatom, was quoted as saying in the release.
"In the near future we are planning to agree upon and sign a contract on the construction of the Nuclear Research and Technology Center in the Plurinational State of Bolivia and a contract on a package of life cycle services for the Center," Komarov said.
Rosatom was concerned about its partners meeting all the requirements for the operation of nuclear power facilities and is ready to provide any help to its Bolivian colleagues in the development of nuclear infrastructure key elements, Komarov said.
The NRTC is expected to allow Bolivia to start the development of nuclear technologies to be applied in science, healthcare, geology, agriculture, among other areas. The center is also set to be used to train personnel in the country's nuclear industry, as well as in the entire region.
The NRTC construction site is located almost 4,115 meters (13,500 feet) above sea level, a higher elevation than any other nuclear research facility (the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, US is 2,231 meters above sea level), according to the press release.
