Rosatom currently supplies 100% of enriched uranium for the Angra NPP and provides the Brazilian market with medical isotopes for cancer diagnosis and treatment,

The signing of the memorandum was the result of ongoing joint work between the Institute and Brazilian scientific organisations.

The project was approved by the Financier of Studies & Projects (Finep – Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos). IPEN will be responsible for research and development of basic materials for the microreactor and IEN will be in charge of the assembly of a subcritical unit – a reduced model of a nuclear reactor, in which there is no self-sustaining chain reaction.

The final product will be returned by December 2027 in the form of UF6 enriched to 4.25% and will be used in the manufacture of nuclear fuel for the Angra dos Reis NPP.

OPEC welcomes the decision approved today by the National Energy Council of the Federative Republic of Brazil (CNPE) that formally paves the way for the participation of Brazil as a Member of the Charter of Cooperation (CoC) between oil producing countries.

According to World Nuclear Association, exploration in the 1970s and 1980s showed that Brazil has reasonably assured resources of 210,000 tonnes of uranium. However, there has been little investment in exploration since the mid-1980s.

More than half of Brazil's power generation already comes from hydro plants, but it has been five years since the industry finished its last major dam - the controversial Belo Monte complex in the northern state of Para.

This is Rosatom’s first long-term contract with Brazil for the supply of enriched uranium products in the history opening access to the largest market for uranium products in the Latin American region.

Russia and Brazil already have ties in the nuclear energy field with an MoU signed in 2017 by Rosatom and Brazil’s Electrobras and Electonuclear to promote cooperation in nuclear power.

Brazil does not yet possess offshore wind capacities (but 20.8 GW for onshore wind in 2021) but several other offshore wind projects are currently planned in the country.