Tuesday, 18 February 2025
The background
Brazil has two operating reactors – Angra 1 and Angra 2 – which generate about 3% of the country’s electricity. Work on the Angra 3 project – to feature a Siemens/KWU 1405 MW pressurised water reactor – began in 1984 but was suspended two years later, before construction began. The scheme was resurrected in 2006, with first concrete in 2010. However, amid a corruption probe into government contracts, construction of the unit was halted for a second time in 2015, when it was 65% complete.
The project resumed again in November 2022 – at the time of the project’s revitalisation, Eletronuclear’s aim was to start operations by the end of 2026. However, work halted again in April 2023 after disputes with the municipality of the City of Angra dos Reis over agreements relating to “environmental compensation” payments and also changes relating to the granted planning permission.
The company is currently awaiting a government decision on completing Angra 3 – it said in September that a study by Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development had concluded that the cost of abandoning construction of the part-built nuclear power unit could be about BRL21 billion (USD3.7 billion), which it says was about the same as the cost of completing it.
It says the unit’s generating capacity will be sufficient to supply 4.5 million inhabitants and also noted that about BRL800 million in Angra 3 equipment was used in Angra 2 and between BRL500-600 million in nuclear fuel, which had been initially purchased for Angra 3, had been used in Angra 2.
What Lycurgo has said
In an article posted on Eletronuclear’s website the company’s president said the project was not just about power generation, but was one which has “the potential to transform investments into social development, generate jobs on a large scale and boost the Brazilian economy” and cited a Getúlio Vargas Foundation study showing that every dollar invested in nuclear energy generated two dollars in GDP.
Lycurgo said that as many as 7000 jobs could be directly created during the project, as well as tens of thousands of indirect jobs. The supply chain would bring benefits to areas of Brazil much wider than the region around Angra dos Reis. He also cited the cost of cancelling the project and stressed the climate target benefits of nuclear energy.
“The future plant also offers a competitive projected tariff, currently estimated at BRL 653.31 (USD 114) per megawatt-hour, below the average cost of several thermal plants in the country. Its steady and clean energy is expected to provide security to the electrical system, reducing dependence on fossil fuel thermal plants and their high variable costs.
“Completing the project will be a milestone for Brazil’s development, not only in the energy sector, but also as a catalyst for economic and social transformations. This is a decision that creates jobs, boosts the economy and reinforces the country’s commitment to sustainable and technological solutions,” he said.
The National Energy Policy Council was considering whether or not to give the go-ahead to Angra 3 during a meeting taking place on Tuesday.
