LA PAZ (Sputnik) – In October, Bolivian President Evo Morales announced that Bolivia would construct a $300-million nuclear research center using Russian and Argentine technology in the next four years. The center will be built in the city of El Alto, the second-largest city in Bolivia, and will include a nuclear research reactor.
"It will be possible to produce isotopes which are not only useful for diagnosis, but also in treatment of more serious illnesses such as cancer. Bolivia will be able to export such isotopes to other countries," Sergei Krivolapov said.
According to the official, the center will have many advantages for the population of El Alto.
"But the production of isotopes benefit all Bolivians, they will be distributed to hospitals in the country," the official stressed.
Rosatom and the Bolivian Hydrocarbon and Energy Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy in November.
In May 2014, Morales announced that his country was working on the development of the nuclear energy industry in the country with support of Argentina.
