The Center for Nuclear Technology Research and Development (CIDTN) in Bolivia is Rosatom's most important project in Latin America and a reference for other countries in the region, said Ivan Tybov, head of the Russian Institute in Latin America.
“The project is strategic, it is very important for us and it is a reference for Latin America, and the success of this project stimulates the interest of other countries that want to have similar projects in their countries,” said Tybov.
Countries interested in developing cooperation with Rosatom to promote projects like CIDTN include El Salvador, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
CITTN is located in the 8th district of the city of El Alto with Rosatom Corporation. Its main components are the preclinical radiopharmacy cyclotron complex, which will start production of radiopharmaceuticals in 2023; and Multipurpose Irradiation Complex to guarantee protection of agricultural produce with gamma ray radiation and strengthen domestic marketing and exports.
The third component is a nuclear research reactor, which is under construction. Additionally, it includes radiobiology and radiology laboratories.
Likewise, Bolivia implemented a network of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy centers in El Alto, La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of oncology, neurology and cardiovascular diseases.
These types of projects are promoting the development of medicine with nuclear technology, particularly in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, Dybov highlighted.
It also helps in research and scientific work to improve the economy of the country.
In addition, the center helps to improve the country's educational standards, thanks to the integration of high-tech professionals that are important for development.
“Each year Rosatom provides scholarships from the company's allocation to Bolivia, and we also carry out training programs for staff and scientists working at ABEN,” he said.
He also highlighted the area where CIDTN is located as it turned positive for the benefit of the neighbours.
The Rosatom executive also emphasized that the center is unique to the world nuclear industry as it is located in El Alto at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level.
Rosatom also offers high-tech products such as 3D additive technologies.
Tybov came to Bolivia to announce the upcoming premiere in Bolivia of Oliver Stone's “Nuclear,” a Rosatom-backed documentary.
Stone, winner of three Oscars, is a strong supporter of nuclear power as an important solution to combating climate change.
For the documentary, the filmmaker dressed up the US, French and Russian nuclear power plants Belairskaya and Russian nuclear icebreakers.
“Nuclear” was presented in Argentina and Brazil and will soon be shown at the Cinemateca in Bolivia.
