TRIGA pool-type nuclear research reactor at Puerto Rico Nuclear Center. UPR Mayagüez. 1962.
“More reactor operators have been trained in FY-1963 than in all previous years. The L-77 reactor (10 watts power level) has been returned to service in the new annex building and is being used for training and teaching of reactor principles. The research reactor (1,000 kilowatts) has been used for research at an increasing tempo so that at any one time about one half of the beam tube capacity has been occupied by experiments while others have been going on in the thermal column and in containers at various points in the pool. Activation analysis has been established as a routine operation and is expected to increase many fold with each year.” -- University of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Nuclear Center. General Information (1963), p. 3
“The L-77 Homogenous Reactor was reinstalled in its new building, was reloaded and is in operation. Most of its use is for training, although some research activity is already developing”. -- Íd., p. 6
“A potentially serious exposure of gamma radiation of some laboratory staff members occurred on July, 1962. Continuous follow-up, correction, and improvement of methods of operation and of equipment have been carried out to help insure against recurrence of such an incident.” -- Íd., p. 7
“Puerto Rico has long considered nuclear power as one of its best options. PRWRA was planning a 600-MW nuclear plant, had already purchased the components for it, and was planning to begin construction on a coastal site near the northern city of Arecibo when the recession caused a drop in energy consumption, a decline in PRWRA revenues, and a dim outlook for the issuance of bonds in the capital markets. It therefore shelved construction plans and put the components up for sale, although it is proceeding with licensing of the site. Ironically, seismic studies during the site selection process raised the possibility of petroleum reserves off the north coast, but confirmation of economically significant reserves will require time and highly expensive and sophisticated drilling technology. Whether such reserves would belong to Puerto Rico or to the Federal government remains a question.” -- University of Puerto Rico. Center for Energy and Environmental Research. Puerto Rico Nuclear Center Annual Report, July 1, 1975 – September 30, 1976. p. 5
