An agreement concluded between the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Eletrobras’ Electric Energy Research Center (Cepel), starts a cooperation agreement to study locations that may house new nuclear power plants in the country. Currently, Brazil has only two units of this type, both in Angra dos Reis, on the Costa Verde, in Rio de Janeiro.
The agreement aims to assist in the fulfillment of the National Energy Plan (PNE) 2050. The document foresees an expansion of 8 to 10 gigawatts in the supply of energy generated by the nuclear power plant in the period, which would require the construction of new plants to meet demand.
According to the government, the measure is part of efforts to diversify the energy matrix, to reduce dependence on water sources.
Brazil currently has a third plant under development. cove 3 construction began in 1984 and went through several interruptions.
Construction was last resumed in 2010 and again halted in 2015, due to allegations of corruption and lack of resources.
The government has already announced its intention to resume work on Angra 3. There has already been a winning consortium to carry out the work on the Critical Path Acceleration Program, for the construction of the security buildings and completion of the reactor building.
The act, however, still needs to be endorsed by the Board of Directors of Eletrobras. Currently, the nuclear source is responsible for 1.1% of the Brazilian energy matrix
Eletronuclear, a subsidiary of Eletrobras responsible for managing the Brazilian nuclear park, will be segregated from the group, so that it is possible to privatize state. This happens because the Brazilian constitution determines the monopoly of the Union in the construction and operation of nuclear reactors.
Thus, the assets of the company and Itaipu Binacional will be transferred to a newly created federal company: Empresa Brasileira de Participações em Energia Nuclear e Binacional (ENBPar).
About new plants, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, said in early December that the Rio de Janeiro is a strong candidate to receive the fourth installation of this type.
The fourth plant would be a more immediate investment, as it is foreseen in the Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan 2030. Thus, experts point out that Angra would take advantage because, due to the units already installed, studies on the area are in-depth and fully known to all those involved. However, the new plant would be the limit for the complex.
The studies also work with two other possibilities, in the states of Holy Spirit e Pernambuco. The country has expanded the enrichment of uranium, which is the fuel used by the plants.
In October, another piece of equipment was inaugurated for this purpose, at the headquarters of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB), in Resende, south of Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil is still working on the construction of a fourth reactor: the nuclear-powered submarine, built by the Institute of Nautical Sciences and Nuclep. In this case, the fuel would be uranium enriched to about 20%. The level is well above the 4.25% demanded by Brazilian plants, but far from the 90% required for nuclear weapons.
Reference: CNN Brasil
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