It will make it possible to cover 65% of the demand for annual refills in Angra 1, an increase of around 5% with respect to current capacity.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) inaugurated the ninth isotopic uranium enrichment cascade.
With the expansion, Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB) reduces its degree of dependence on contracting the isotopic enrichment service abroad for the production of fuel for national nuclear power plants.
The event was held at the Nuclear Fuel Factory (FCN) in Resende (RJ)
The ninth cascade of the Enrichment Plant will allow reaching the production capacity to cover 65% of the demand for annual refills in Angra 1.
This, according to the MME, corresponds to an increase of around 5% with respect to current capacity.
It also specified that the investment for the construction of this waterfall was R $ 54 million.
He also highlighted the importance of developing ultracentrifuge technology, which guarantees Brazil mastery of the nuclear fuel cycle.
In addition, the authorities indicated that the plan is to complete the first phase of the Plant in early 2023.
Then, they will begin to implement the second phase, which provides for the installation of 30 ultracentrifuge cascades.
Therefore, the goal is to become self-sufficient in the production of enriched uranium.
“INB will be able to supply, with national production, the demand of the nuclear power plants of Angra 1, 2 and 3”, announced the authorities.
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Operation
The inauguration is part of the first phase of the implementation of the Isotopic Uranium Enrichment Plant.
It is a project in partnership with the Brazilian Navy, which seeks to install ten ultracentrifuge cascades in the FCN.
Its completion is scheduled for 2023, with the entry into operation of the tenth cascade, when the capacity of 70% of the annual demand necessary to supply Angra 1 will be reached.
The technology for uranium enrichment through the ultracentrifugation process was developed in Brazil by the São Paulo Naval Technological Center (CTMSP), in alliance with the Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research (IPEN).
According to the World Nuclear Association, Brazil is part of a select group of 13 countries internationally recognized by the nuclear sector as having uranium enrichment facilities with different industrial production capacities.
Extension
The implementation of the FCN Isotopic Uranium Enrichment Plant will be carried out, in a modular way, in two phases, the second consisting of thirty waterfalls.
The forecast is that, by 2033, INB will be able to satisfy, with totally national production, the needs of the nuclear power plants in Angra 1 and 2 and, in 2037, the demand in Angra 3.
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