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Latin American leaders are unlikely to bring their nuclear projects to a halt as a result of the continuing nuclear crisis in Japan, according to the Wall Street Journal.
However, such projects are likely to experience increasing public opposition in light of the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex, caused by the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan on 11 March 2011.
The report points out that Argentina and Brazil are already spending billions of dollars on kick-starting nuclear projects both countries abandoned back in the 1980.
While Chile is also pondering for the first time whether to embark on a nuclear build programme in an effort to diversify the sources of energy it uses to meet domestic demands.
Mexico, which has one operating nuclear power station, the 1360 MW Laguna Verde, initially planned to build ten nuclear power plants by 2028.
However, with continued low gas prices state-owned power company CFE announced in November 2010 that it would scale back to six to eight 1400 MW units, the first two at Laguna Verde.
Earlier this month, Mexico reported a 6.5-magnitude earthquake in the state of Veracruz, but confirmed that Laguna Verde, along with other power infrastructure, was undamaged.
Related story: Iberdrola completes $600m nuclear power plant upgrade
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