Brazil is experiencing a promising moment for the consolidation of nuclear energy in the country. The conclusion comes from the Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque. According to him, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) government has taken important steps, in coordination with other areas of government, to promote the expansion of this type of energy in the Brazilian energy matrix and its consequences in various applications for the benefit of society.

Albuquerque recalled that in July the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Argentine ambassador Rafael Grossi, was in Brazil and visited several nuclear facilities. The highlight was the Angra 3 plant (photo), whose resumption of construction is a priority for the government. “I can say that the presence of Ambassador Rafael Grossi was the expression of a historic and fruitful relationship developed by Brazil with Argentina and the International Agency [of atomic energy] and that has been expanded and strengthened in recent years,” he said, attending the opening. online of the XII International Seminar on Nuclear Energy-Sien 2021.

According to the minister, the government's long-term energy planning, which is the National Energy Plan 2050, projects an expansion of nuclear generation between 8 and 10 gigawatts (GW). “To this end, the National Energy Policy Council, in its resolution number 2 of 2021, decided to prepare studies for the definition of new sites for the installation of future nuclear power plants”.

These new units could be composed of classic reactors or small modular reactors, which are an economical alternative for the supply of energy "as part of the solution for a low carbon economy, in line with the commitments of the Paris agreement on climate change ”, revealed.

Agenda 

Albuquerque added that Brazil will be a member of the Vienna group, to be created to discuss nuclear energy as an option for climate solutions. Brazil will also participate in the 65th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in September, and the 26th edition of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change 2021, COP26, scheduled to take place from November 1st to 12th, in Glasgow, in Scotland, chaired by the United Kingdom. According to the minister, COP 26 will be an opportunity to present Brazilian efforts in the fight for decarbonization.

The minister also informed that together with the Brazilian Nuclear Program Development Committee, coordinated by the Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of the Republic (GSI), the MME participates in the implementation of a communication plan to publicize and clarify the population on the importance of the resumption of the Brazilian nuclear program.

“In addition to the actions already highlighted, we have participated in several international forums discussing the importance of developing nuclear energy for Brazil, seeking partnerships and investments for the sector, such as the useful life study of Angra I”, he concluded.

Regulatory authority 

For him, internally, the actions are advancing the necessary adjustments to update the legal framework for nuclear activity, with the creation of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority provided for in Provisional Measure 1.049, which has already been sent to the National Congress by President Jair Bolsonaro.

“The new autarchy aims to reestablish the legal conditions of independence for the authority to carry out its actions as provided for in the convention on nuclear safety. The entire structure of the authority is aimed at meeting the best standards that we strive for from a technical, regulatory, security and legal point of view, as well as international requirements”, said the minister.

Angra 3 

The forecast is that Angra 3 Plant will add 1,405 megawatts (MW) to the Brazilian electrical system, operating in approximately 82,000 m² of built-up area. Started in 1984, the construction of the unit was interrupted twice, the last in 2015, when just over 60% of the project was completed. Angra 3 should go into operation at the end of 2026.

Also present at the symposium, Eletrobras' financial director, Elvira Presta, said that the BNDES is structuring the financing of the Angra 3 work and, so far, it is Eletrobras who is fully financing the work.

“We are talking about a project that still requires something around R$ 18 billion in investment. It is by far the biggest Eletrobras project. It represents 30% of all Eletrobras investment project over the next five years. It is a complex work, the volume is around 40 contracts involved, there are many suppliers. There was a history of problems in this work in the past and for all that, there was the decision of an independent compliance structure”, she highlighted.