CNEN asks for nuclear regulatory agency
Brazil has the sixth largest uranium reserves in the world and is capable of carrying out enrichment technology
The president of the National Commission of Nuclear Energy (CNEN), Odair Gonçalves, asked the deputies who attended a conference in the Chamber about the Brazilian nuclear program, to support the establishment of a regulatory agency for the sector, as well as a national policy to prevent changes of direction in what is being planned. The seminar was sponsored by members of the Mixed Parliamentary Group in Defense of the Brazilian Nuclear Program, which was created during the event on Tuesday (24th).
Amendments: nearly 200 million reais
Deputy Gonçalves and other participants also said that the final approval of the amendments suggested by the Commission for Science and Technology, Communication and IT to the 2010 Budget is very important. The amendments earmark R$ 100 million for the construction of centrifuges needed to enrich uranium and just over R$ 98 million for a reactor that will be used for production of radiopharmaceuticals, which are now imported.
The coordinator of the parliamentary group, Deputy Dr Ubiali (PSB-SP), recalled that Brazil has the sixth largest uranium reserves in the world and is capable of carrying out enrichment technology.
The federal government announced in June this year that it plans to set up seven or eight nuclear power plants between 2010 and 2034. After the construction of the Angra III plant, Eletronuclear will carry out studies for the location of four new plants planned for the Southeast and Northeast, in locations as yet not defined.
Uranium supply
The president of Nuclear Industries of Brazil S.A., Alfredo Tranjan Filho, said that with these centrifuges the country will be able to produce all the enriched uranium to fuel the three power plants in Angra dos Reis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil has started to enrich uranium for power plants this year and has still not achieved a sufficient level of production.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Sergio Rezende, said that from 2013 on the supply of uranium will be guaranteed by the production in the state of Ceará. "When the Santa Quitéria mines come on stream, we will have enough uranium for the three plants in Angra dos Reis, for the four new ones and there will still be a small surplus."
Minister Rezende added, however, that the nuclear fuel has a bigger cycle, beyond the ore stage. "You have to produce the oxide, then the gas and then use a centrifuge for uranium enrichment. We are making progress in these last two phases”.
Strategy
Former Minister of Science and Technology, Roberto Amaral, said that the problem of the Brazilian nuclear program is lack of agility on the part of the state. "We have a paralyzed state in which the administrative structure has become autonomous. The country must give different treatment to issues that are strategic. And the only person who can say what is strategic is the President."
The superintendent of the nuclear program of the Navy Technology Center in Sao Paulo (CTMSP), Captain Luciano Pagano Jr., emphasized the importance of the nuclear-powered submarines for the defense of the Brazilian coast.
Energy production
According to the Secretary of Planning of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Paulo Costa, the country needs to double its energy production capacity by 2030. In this scenario, nuclear energy would have to increase its share from the 2% of the total measured in 2005, to 7.3%.
As to the environmental concerns, the President of CNEN, Odair Gonçalves, said that current technology is safe and that nuclear power emits the least greenhouse gases.
Reporting - Sylvia Mugnatto / Radio Station of the Chamber
Editing - Regina Céli Assumpção / RX
Translation – Rejane Xavier