Argentine green groups are applauding a decision by the lower house of Congress to suspend consideration of legislation that would allow spent nuclear-fuel rods from Australia to be processed in the country. The Chamber of Deputies appeared Nov. 29 to be on the verge of approving the bill, needed to cement a deal under which an Argentine company would build a small research reactor for Australia. But under pressure from environmentalists, lawmakers referred the matter to several legislative committees for discussion and public comment. Controversy over the research-reactor deal with Australia emerged earlier this year (See “Argentina’s sale of reactor raises questions”—EcoAméricas, July ’01). But the debate has intensified in recent weeks as major news media have devoted attention to it. At... [Log in to read more]