Brazil 추진 for Fourth Nuclear Power Plant Construction to Resolve Power Shortage

Angra-3 Nuclear Power Plant Construction Site in Brazil
[Photo by Eletrobras, Brazil's State-Owned Power Company]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The Brazilian government is actively considering the construction of additional nuclear power plants to alleviate chronic power shortages. Analysts suggest that Brazil, where nuclear power currently accounts for only 1% of the total energy sources, is beginning to expand its nuclear power capacity in earnest.

According to Brazilian media such as the daily Estado de S. Paulo on the 7th (local time), the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Brazil is expected to include the construction of a fourth nuclear power plant in the national energy plan, which is being promoted until 2031 to increase power production.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy plans to complete the construction of the third nuclear power plant by 2026?2027 and immediately proceed with the construction of an additional nuclear power plant.

Currently, work is underway to select the site and prepare financing plans, and a concrete plan is expected to be announced as early as the beginning of next year.

Brazil's nuclear energy program began in the 1950s, and currently, the Angra-1 and Angra-2 nuclear power plants are operating in the Angra dos Reis area of Rio de Janeiro state in the southeast. The construction of the Angra-3 nuclear power plant is about 60% complete.

Brazil heavily depends on hydropower, so when droughts reduce the water levels of major dams, power supply inevitably faces difficulties. Insufficient investment in transmission and distribution facilities is also pointed out as a cause of power outages.

Recently, due to severe droughts causing ongoing power shortages, there have been calls to revive daylight saving time, which had been suspended since 2019.

As of April this year, Brazil's total power production was 175.812 GW, consisting of hydropower 59.4%, combined heat and power 15.5%, wind power 9.9%, biomass 8.4%, solar power 1.8%, nuclear power 1.1%, and others 3.9%.