Nuclear power awakes in Brazil
Since the decade of the 1960s, Brazil has sought to rapidly develop its sources of electricity, in an attempt to keep up with the country`s fast pace of industrialization and economic growth. Thanks to the country`s abundance of hydro resources, Brazil has managed to satisfy its electricity needs until now. Hydropower plants were build expeditiously, especially in the Brazilian southeast, where the country`s industrial activities are concentrated, and where electricity demand is the greatest. When Brazil encountered staggered economic growth in the 1980s, additional plans to construct electricity plants were put aside. But with Brazilian President Cardoso`s successful economic reforms, starting in 1995, Brazil`s industrial sector has renewed its momentum, putting an ever-pressing strain on the supply of electricity, which would need to grow at a rate of 5 percent annually to keep up with demand. In 1995, Angra 1, a 626 MWe PWR located south of the city of Rio, operated for 337 days and accounted for 12 percent of the electricity consumed in Rio during peak demand. With the operation of Angra 2, a 1229 MWe PWR presently under construction, total electricity generated by nuclear power would reach close to 34 percent of Rio`s consumption. In addition, provisions are being made for a third reactor, Angra 3, 1245 MWe plant. Construction would begin in 1998 in order to be in operation by 2005.
- OSTI ID:
- 471594
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear Review, Journal Issue: 339; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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