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Published on 11/27/2021 3:18 PM Updated on 11/27/2021 3:19 PM

Brazil increases uranium enrichment capacity

Inauguration of the 9th cascade of ultracentrifuges at the Uranium Isotopic Enrichment Plant - Photo: MME

 

The Nuclear Industries of Brazil (INB), a body linked to the Federal Government, inaugurated this Friday (26/11) the 9th cascade of ultracentrifuges at the Uranium Isotopic Enrichment Plant, at the Nuclear Fuel Factory (FCN), in Resende (RJ) ). With the start of operation of the cascade, it will be possible to produce 65% of the annual recharge demand of the Angra 1 plant, an increase of 5% compared to current capacity.

 

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, who highlighted the development of the Brazilian Nuclear Program to expand and diversify the country's energy matrix, considered one of the cleanest in the world. According to him, an example presented to several countries during the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP26), in Glasgow, Scotland.

 

The minister also highlighted the importance of investments to expand this diversification and face, for example, situations such as the recent lack of rain in the country. “We have overcome the biggest hydrological crisis the country has ever experienced. We excel because we have competence, we know how to establish the correct governance and we are also continuing all these programs. If we didn't have nuclear energy, if we didn't have our hydraulic matrix, which was greatly affected by the crisis, if we hadn't diversified our matrix, which today is basically composed of nine sources, we wouldn't have overcome this challenge”, he added.

 

The Federal Government invested R$54 million in the construction of the 9th cascade of ultracentrifuges and intends to deliver the 10th by 2023. The inauguration is part of the first phase of implementation of the Uranium Isotopic Enrichment Plant, a project in partnership with the Brazilian Navy.

 

According to the president of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil, Carlos Freire Moreira, the forecast is that the Nuclear Fuel Factory can make Brazil independent and supply, in the future, all the demand for uranium from the plants of Angra 1, Angra 2 and, soon, , of Angra 3, still under construction. “Next, our challenge will be the implementation of the Uranium Enrichment Commercial Plant, which foresees the installation of 30 cascades of ultracentrifuges. When everything is working, we will reach the level to serve Angra 1, 2 and 3 ”, he explained.

 

The plants of Angra 1 and 2 are capable of generating enough energy to supply a city with 3 million inhabitants.

 

Category

Energy, Minerals and Fuels