Nuclear technology a priority for Brazil

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is addressing the nuclear issue as a priority for Brazil, says Aquilino Senra, president of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (Brazil Nuclear Industries, INB in the Portuguese acronym), a corporation d to the ministry. “It's a strategic area for the country, not only for power generation, but for applications including medicine and radiopharmaceuticals [compounds used in nuclear medicine],” he told Agência Brasil.

According to Senra, nuclear power s for only a small share of Brazil's energy mix – less than 2%. The aim is to raise this to around 5%. He expects decisions regarding new nuclear plants in Brazil to be made as soon as the economic issue facing the country is overcome, pointing out Mines and Energy Minister Eduardo Braga has hinted the issue will be resumed.

Nuclear power should play an important role in Brazil's energy mix according to him. “Brazil is one of the world's few countries that have uranium ore and the technology for processing it and use [plants] to generate power. Only three countries worldwide have this status – Brazil, Russia, and the United States. That's quite an advantage,” he said.

Senra argued that safety concerns around nuclear power raised by the accident at the plant in Fukushima, Japan in 2011 have been overcome through efforts coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “We still have the economic issue, but I'm sure we'll overcome this situation soon, and a favorable decision is coming soon.”

Another important project for the country according to him is a radioisotope reactor to meet a demand in nuclear medicine for two million diagnosis and treatment procedures. “Brazil still relies on importing the main isotope – molybdenum – used for producing these radiopharmaceuticals.” He said the ministry plans to focus on it as a priority strategic activity.

Translated by Mayra Borges