Brazil To Resume Construction Of 3rd Nuclear
Power Plant
Rio de Janeiro - The
construction of Brazil's long-delayed third
nuclear power plant, Angra 3, will resume in
September, the president of the country's
nuclear power company Electronuclear, Othon
Luiz Pinheiro, said on Friday.
The construction of Angra 3 started in 1984,
but was halted in 1986 due to pressure from
the media and environmental groups.
According to Pinheiro, the recommencement of
work means Brazil is returning to nuclear
power generation. It also opens the way for
more nuclear power plants in the country.
"Our nuclear program will not be as
spectacular as those of China and India, but
we will have a moderate and constant growth
from Angra 3 on," Pinheiro said.
The Brazilian government plans to build a
nuclear complex with six plants in the
northeastern region, each generating 1,000
megawatts. It is also contemplating a
similar complex in the southeastern region.
The construction of Angra 3 also indicates
that Brazil is diversifying its electricity
production, said Pinheiro.
Brazil currently relies on hydroelectricity
to produce around 90 percent of its energy.
This new nuclear power plant is expected to
enter into service in December 2014,
Pinheiro said.
Like Angra 1 and Angra 2, Brazil's first two
nuclear power plants, Angra 3 will be built
in the coastal town of Angra dos Reis in Rio
de Janeiro Province. When finished, the
plant will generate 1,350 megawatts of
energy, bringing to 3,350 megawatts the
total of the three plants.
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