From September 14 to 19, 2025, Buenos Aires hosted a historic edition of HOTLAB – the 61st Annual Meeting on Hot Laboratories and Remote Handling, organized by Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
A historic milestone for nuclear science in Latin America
This was the first time in its six-decade history that HOTLAB was held in Latin America, positioning Argentina as a regional hub in nuclear science and technology and showcasing its capabilities to a high-level global audience.
Held at the Buenos Aires Marriott Hotel, the event brought together technicians, engineers, researchers, operators, and senior executives from across the nuclear sector to exchange knowledge and foster collaboration in:
- Characterization of irradiated materials
- Development and validation of nuclear fuels
- Radioactive waste management
- Nuclear medicine applications
- Remote inspection and repair techniques
CONUAR’s strategic role as sponsor and exhibitor
CONUAR participated as a strategic sponsor and technical exhibitor, reaffirming its commitment to nuclear innovation and international cooperation.
Our presence at HOTLAB 2025 allowed us to:
- Showcase our engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities
- Present a unique case developed with Nucleoeléctrica Argentina
- Engage directly with leading experts and international organizations
We also presented a scientific poster during the technical sessions and hosted global delegations at our Ezeiza industrial facility.
Technical highlight: Remote underwater welding at Atucha II
Our scientific case focused on the 2023 intervention at Atucha II, during a scheduled outage when loose metallic components were discovered at the bottom of the reactor vessel.
The challenge was extraordinary:
- The reactor was loaded and operational
- The debris was 12 meters underwater, in a highly irradiated environment
- Without resolution, full reactor dismantling was the only option, with an estimated cost of over USD 400 million
CONUAR developed a remote-operated underwater welding system in only six months. The tool integrated mechanical, hydraulic, vacuum, and electronic systems capable of performing nuclear-grade welds remotely under extreme conditions.
Key results:
- The three loose components were permanently and safely secured
- Reactor dismantling and major financial losses were avoided
- Operational continuity and power supply security were maintained
This became one of the first successful underwater welding operations worldwide in a loaded nuclear reactor, positioning CONUAR as a leader in custom nuclear engineering solutions.
International delegation visits to our Ezeiza facility
As part of HOTLAB 2025, international experts visited our Ezeiza plant to learn about our technical capabilities in:
- Production of nuclear fuel elements
- Advanced alloy seamless tube manufacturing
- Design and fabrication of critical components for the nuclear and strategic sectors
These visits fostered valuable technical exchange and highlighted Argentina’s talent and infrastructure.
Why HOTLAB 2025 was key to CONUAR’s global positioning
Participating in HOTLAB 2025 went far beyond sponsoring a prestigious event. It was a platform for global visibility, validation, and collaboration.
Our participation enabled us to:
- Reinforce our image as a reliable provider of complex nuclear solutions
- Share a pioneering intervention case in nuclear reactor maintenance
- Build new international partnerships for technology transfer and joint innovation
- Demonstrate Argentina’s strategic role in the global nuclear energy agenda
At CONUAR, we believe innovation is born from challenge. HOTLAB 2025 was a milestone that showcased our ability to address the nuclear industry’s most complex technical challenges with safe, efficient, and high-impact solutions.
Our work at Atucha II not only averted major economic and energy consequences, but also confirmed CONUAR’s role as a strategic partner to the global nuclear community.
