📋 Tender Overview
Our country continues to advance in the application of radiation technology to improve the quality of industry and protect the environment. In addition to implementing a multipurpose pilot on an industrial scale, Uruguay is the venue for a regional meeting, sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which a program was presented to combat plastic pollution by introducing irradiation technologies to improve plastic recycling and detect them in the ocean. Minister Elisa Facio stressed the importance of applying these technologies, along with capacity building, and assured: “our commitment to regional collaboration and technical excellence.”
The MIEM, within the framework of the National Irradiation Committee, is organizing the Regional Workshop on the Design of Irradiation Facilities for Plastic Recycling and its Economic Viability . The opening event, which brings together polymer specialists from eight Latin American countries, took place at the Technological Park of the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) on December 9.
The workshop is sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as part of its technical cooperation project Promotion of radiation technology in natural and synthetic polymers to develop new products, with emphasis on waste recovery. Co-sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, LATU, the Chamber of Industries of Uruguay and the Plastic Technology Center. The event is part of other activities organized by DINATEN during this week, within the framework of the same project, which will also bring together national and Latin American technicians.
The opening panel included the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Elisa Facio ; the Director of the National Directorate of Nuclear Technology Applications (Dinaten), Aníbal Abreu ; and the Manager of Programs of the IAEA, Facundo Deluchi . The Undersecretary of Environment, Gerardo Amarilla ; the General Director of the MIEM Secretariat, Natalia Jul ; and the National Director of Mining and Geology, Marcelo Pugliesi , among other authorities and guests, also participated.
During the meeting, the IAEA's international initiative called NUTEC Plastics was launched and success stories of the application of irradiation technology in polymer treatments were presented, with a focus on the circular economy.
Minister Elisa Facio stressed the importance of applying this technology, especially for an agricultural exporting country like Uruguay. These tools allow “to raise the quality of the industry , with emphasis on the environmental aspect, both for the international market and for the domestic market,” she said.
The Secretary of State recalled that Uruguay is carrying out a national project for multipurpose irradiation on an industrial scale, which is currently being developed in the pilot phase. It is an “ environmentally friendly solution that not only improves the quality of products, as in the case of food, but also extends their shelf life and allows compliance with phytosanitary barriers and quality requirements of the purchasing markets,” without altering the products, she explained.
To develop it, he highlighted the technical support of the IAEA and the efforts of LATU, which made it possible to have a pilot-scale irradiator for testing . In addition, he said that capacity building is a “central pillar of our strategy to promote the productive development of the country.” All of this, he stressed, will allow this project to have a “sustainable impact over time, both in terms of technology and human development.”
Facio recalled that Uruguay received an award in 2023 for its advances in the use of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. This occurs as the link with the IAEA is strengthened. It is this strengthening that made it possible to organize this workshop that reflects “our commitment to regional collaboration and technical excellence,” he said.
Meanwhile, director Aníbal Abreu said that the workshop sought to highlight the impact of irradiation technology on the region to combat plastic waste.
For his part, the IAEA representative, Facundo Deluchi, highlighted the importance of the event, which is part of NUTEC Plastics and whose objective was to "associate the technological capabilities that exist in the region and their potential for development at a regional level with the productive potential" of the countries.
Deluchi highlighted the work that Uruguay is doing in this area, both at the state and business level. “What we need is to bring you closer to the capabilities that this technology can offer to open new markets,” based on its potential “from a productive and business point of view,” and in a way that is adapted to the regional reality.
He also expressed his conviction about Uruguay's potential at the regional and international level . "We have come to provide solid technical content" to create a structure that "allows to link science and technology directly applied to industrial and productive activities," he said.
