Brazil's Minister of Science and Technology said Tuesday he believed the country would approve plans to build more nuclear reactors later this year, drawing howls of protest from environmental groups.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazil's Minister of Science and Technology said Tuesday he believed the country would approve plans to build more nuclear reactors later this year, drawing howls of protest from environmental groups.
Sergio Rezende said plans to spend US$13 billion (euro10.41 billion) over the next 17 years to build seven nuclear reactors were also being considered by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
"I commented on the subject at a recent meeting of ministers with President Lula and he agreed that theme was important and strategic for the country," Rezende was quoted as saying by the official government news agency.
Rezende said the money would be spent to complete the long-stalled Angra 3 nuclear plant as well two other large-scale reactors and four smaller ones.
Brazil already has two nuclear reactors, Angra 1 and Angra 2, situated on the coast some 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Rio de Janeiro, but work on Angra 3 has been stalled for years due to budget problems and concerns over the safety and economic viability of nuclear energy.
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"It would be a very big historical error to write off this technology. For that reason, we will conclude the discussion that will define the nuclear area as strategic for the country," Rezende told the Radiobras agency. "The decision about Angra 3 and other plants is part of the Brazilian Nuclear Program which I expect will be approved by the end of the year."
The environmental group Greenpeace, however, said nuclear energy was outmode and dangerous.
"It would be foolishness to approve a nuclear program that is expensive, unsafe, dirty and unnecessary," Marcelo Furtado, director of Greenpeace's Brazilian nuclear campaign said. "I hope President Lula listens to the Brazilian population and rejects this proposal.
According to Greenpeace, a recent opinion poll showed 82 percent of Brazilians were opposed to building more nuclear plants.
"We could invest these 30 billion reals (US$13 billion; euro10.41 billion) in education, health, fighting hunger and above all sustainable projects with positive impact on society and the environment," Furtado added.
Brazil's first nuclear plant, Angra I cost about US$6 billion (euro4.8 billion) to build and Angra II cost some US$14 billion (euro11.2 billion). The stalled Angra 3 plant has already cost the government over US$1 billion (euro800 million) though it is far from complete.
The two operational plants supply about 4.3 percent of Brazil's electrical energy.
Brazil's nuclear program has been the subject of recent controversy after the government announced last year that it planned to begin enriching uranium for use in its nuclear plants.
Initially, the government denied inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency access to the uranium enriching centrifuges over fears of industrial espionage.
Eventually, a deal was reached that allowed inspectors access to the plant without a full view of the centrifuges ending the impasse.
Source: Associated Press
