Nuclear power plants are subject to the highest safety standards and are supervised through rigorous controls.
Nuclear energy contributes to compliance with the Kyoto Protocol by its competitiveness and by reducing CO2 emissions. This energy source does not generate gases or particles that cause the greenhouse effect, one of the main causes of climate change.
The care of the environment is considered in each of the phases that make up the cycle of construction, production, as well as the protection of its workers, the public and the environment.
In this sense, Nucleoeléctrica has an environmental management system that has been certified according to the IRAM ISO-14001 standard.
The company assumes an environmental policy that focuses on continuously adapting environmental management to applicable regulations, promoting the training of personnel in caring for the environment, communicating its environmental policy, evaluating the potential risks of new projects, minimizing environmental impacts during its execution, and continuously improving environmental performance.
Nucleoeléctrica is committed to caring of its environment, the towns and cities near nuclear power plants and the people who live there.
The company has projects such as an organic orchard on the property of Atucha Nuclear Power Plant Site and the Causachi wildlife reserve in an area adjacent to Embalse Nuclear Power Plant. The orchard has five thousand square meters where different types of vegetables are grown and has a greenhouse and fruit trees while the reserve has a space of nine hectares where species of local fauna are protected.
In the area adjacent to Embalse Nuclear Power Plant, on the shores of the lake, the power plant has a six-hectare piece of land in which typical animals of the native fauna of the area are protected.
The creation of the nature reserve was promoted by Nucleoeléctrica. The Reserve has the necessary conditions for the animals to find a suitable environment, which allows them to grow and develop in freedom. The plant carries out a program of veterinary controls and food supports for the fauna.
The place was called Causachi, which in Quichua means 'Maintain life, protect life'.
On the premises of Atucha I and Atucha II power plants, a five thousand square meter orchard has been installed where different types of vegetables, greens and fruits are grown.
The orchard started in 1993 and has shown since then that the activity of nuclear power plants does not impact on the production or the health of the soil products, being a reliable and environmentally friendly source of energy.
In these plots lettuce, carrot, chard, arugula, beet, cabbage, broccoli, radish are grown and harvested, among other varieties of vegetables according to the season. In the orchard there are some fruit trees, such as grapefruit, lemon and tangerine.
Also, a greenhouse was installed where seeds, roses and tomatoes are grown.
In addition to the usual maintenance of this space, the corresponding controls on the soil are carried out there.
The vegetables and fruit collected in the orchard are given to the workers of the power plants and to charity canteen in the area of influence of the plants.