[03/09/2025]
For two days, on August 26–27, 2025, at the La Reina Nuclear Studies Center in Santiago, the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CCHEN), together with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Latin American Center for Physics (CLAF), and the Chilean Physical Society (SOCHIFI), organized the First Inter-American Conference on Nuclear Fusion Science and Technology and its Applications — an unprecedented event in the region that brought together international experts, Latin American researchers, industry representatives, and political authorities. The meeting positioned Chile and Latin America within the global discussion on nuclear fusion.
One of the highlights of the congress was the Round Table on challenges for academia and industry, which brought together Dr. Aldo Valle, Chile’s Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation; Senator Francisco Chahuán, member of the Future Commission on Science and Technology; Máximo Pacheco, Chairman of the Board of CODELCO; Guido Girardi, former Senate President and current Executive Vice-President of the Encuentros del Futuro Foundation; and Dr. Gustavo Canal, professor at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Moderated by Dr. Luis Huerta, Executive Director of CCHEN, the debate emphasized the need to strengthen ties between the scientific, political, and industrial sectors to ensure that advances in nuclear fusion translate into strategic impact for the region.
Connection with the political and industrial spheres
The first day was dedicated to the international outlook, featuring presentations by Dr. Thawatchai Onjun, Director of Thailand’s Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), and Steven Cowley, Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL, USA), who discussed progress in research and cooperation in their respective countries and regions. The program continued with a session dedicated to Latin American progress, with presentations by Drs. Hugo Ferrari and Horacio Corti (Argentina), who addressed human resource training; Dr. Alejandro Clausse (Argentina), on research and development in Plasma Focus; and Dr. Gustavo Canal (Brazil), who presented an overview of the state of plasma and fusion science in his country, which is advancing toward the creation of a national nuclear fusion program. Also participating were Dr. Iván Vargas (Costa Rica), Dr. Julio Herrera (Mexico), as well as Drs. Felipe Veloso, Alejandro Prada, and Leopoldo Soto (CCHEN, Chile), who showcased Chile’s role as a prominent actor in small-scale experimental fusion research.
CLAF Director Dr. Ulisses Barres moderated a Round Table on nuclear fusion as an engine for industry, which included Dr. Hernán Cáceres, Executive Director of the Lithium and Salts Institute; Xavier Cazor, from the Division of Emerging Technologies of Chile’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation; Dr. Alejandro Clausse, from the Technological Institute of Buenos Aires (Argentina); and Jerónimo Verdugo, from the National Mining Company (ENAMI). The discussion highlighted the importance of linking fusion research with strategic sectors such as mining and energy, emphasizing the role Latin America can play in this area. Natural resources in the region are essential for nuclear fusion development: rare earth elements, present in Brazil, Chile, and other Latin American countries, will be indispensable for manufacturing the powerful magnets required by future fusion reactors; and copper, abundant in Chile and Peru, will be key for developing pulsed power technology associated with these facilities.
Regional development
The second day continued with a Round Table on science, equity, and energy justice in the Global South, which addressed how to ensure that nuclear fusion becomes part of a fair and equitable energy transition not only for developed countries but also for Latin America and other regions of the Global South. The debate, moderated by Dr. Leopoldo Soto, focused on nuclear fusion as a bridge between Latin America and the world, with contributions from Dr. Thawatchai Onjun (TINT, Thailand), Steven Cowley (PPPL, USA), Dr. Ulisses Barres (CLAF), and Dr. Matteo Barbarino (IAEA). This closing session reinforced the need to consolidate regional and global networks to jointly advance nuclear fusion development.
The conference concluded with an agreement to move forward with the Santiago Declaration on Nuclear Fusion, a document aimed at establishing an initial commitment to strengthen regional cooperation in research, human capital training, and industry engagement. The declaration seeks to create a common framework linking governments, scientific institutions, and the productive sector, with the goal of building a Latin American nuclear fusion agenda that positions the region as a key actor in the global energy transition.
In this context, Dr. Luis Huerta, Executive Director of CCHEN, remarked:
“This congress marks a turning point for Chile and the region. Bringing together scientists, authorities, and industry representatives in one space shows that nuclear fusion is not only a laboratory topic but a strategic challenge requiring national and regional vision. CCHEN takes on the responsibility of facilitating this dialogue and, most importantly, of opening pathways for a Latin American nuclear fusion agenda.”
Dr. Leopoldo Soto, CCHEN researcher, Conference Chairman, and Coordinator of the CLAF Nuclear Fusion Unit, emphasized:
“The Inter-American Nuclear Fusion Conference is a foundational milestone. For the first time, Latin America is holding an integrated conversation on a field that will be decisive in the future energy matrix. Our challenge now is to transform this meeting into a permanent cooperation network, capable of projecting the region’s talent and resources onto the global stage. We hope the Santiago Declaration will serve as a roadmap to guide and inspire the future of nuclear fusion in the region.”
Similarly, Dr. Ulisses Barres, Director of the Latin American Center for Physics (CLAF-UNESCO), stressed:
“This conference was a very important step toward regional cooperation in nuclear fusion in Latin America. For the first time, we managed to bring together researchers, scientific institutions, industry representatives, and government authorities to begin a dialogue on the challenges and opportunities offered by fusion. I hope the Santiago Declaration will reinforce these conclusions and serve as a first step toward establishing a framework that allows us to continue advancing and delivering concrete results for the region’s progress.”
A history materializing
This conference resulted from an initiative of CCHEN, inspired by the invitation received by Chile to participate in the First Meeting of the Global Nuclear Fusion Group in Rome in 2024. Chile played a prominent role in the creation of the Nuclear Fusion Unit of the Latin American Center for Physics (CLAF), thus confirming Latin America’s place at the global table of future energy.
See the full news release published on 02/09/2025 by CCHEN Communications: https://www.cchen.cl/?p=8515