Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB) has signed a contract with Internexco GmbH for the export of uranium concentrate. The uranium will be enriched abroad and re-imported for use in Brazil’s Angra nuclear power plants by December 2027. INB is planning future contracts and establishing an enrichment facility to enhance domestic uranium supply.
Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB) has entered into a contract with Internexco GmbH, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned Rosatom, to export up to 275,000 kilograms of uranium concentrate (U3O8) produced in Caetité, Bahia. The uranium will undergo conversion and enrichment before being re-imported to Brazil as enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF6, 4.25%) by December 2027, to be utilized for fuel in the Angra 1 and 2 nuclear power plants, which are operated by Eletronuclear.
INB President Adauto Seixas indicated that logistical planning for the shipment has commenced, encompassing domestic transportation within Brazil, international maritime shipping from Salvador to Russia, and acquiring the requisite export licenses. He highlighted, “The INB plans to increase the frequency of these contracts through future international bidding processes, following the successful resumption of uranium production in Caetité.”
The only stage of the nuclear fuel cycle not managed by INB is conversion, a process that changes yellowcake into uranium hexafluoride (UF6), which is vital for uranium enrichment. The gaseous form of uranium is enriched to elevate the concentration of fissionable isotopes to generate nuclear fuel. INB is also in the process of establishing its own enrichment facility at its nuclear fuel plant in Resende, Rio de Janeiro, aimed at supplying 70% of the enriched uranium needed for Angra 1 annually.
The contract was awarded following an international bidding process, which was based on the most competitive global pricing while satisfying all technical requirements for INB’s operations. Recent regulatory changes since January have sparked interest from the private sector in Brazil’s uranium extraction, with companies like Rosatom and Galvani expressing interest in the country’s untapped uranium reserves.
Despite being the eighth-largest holder of uranium reserves globally and having the necessary technology for peaceful enrichment, Brazil paradoxically imports a substantial portion of its uranium, mining only 40% of its needs for Angra 1 (640 MW). Most of the additional requirements are fulfilled through imports from Russia. Currently, uranium extraction is predominantly concentrated in Caetité, Bahia, but a new mining project in Santa Quitéria, Ceará, is in development and is at the public hearing stage for its approval process.
In conclusion, INB’s contract with Rosatom marks a significant step in Brazil’s nuclear energy landscape. Through strategic planning and investment in enrichment facilities, Brazil aims to strengthen its uranium supply chain while addressing its reliance on imports. The ongoing developments in uranium extraction demonstrate a potential growth in domestic production capabilities, enhancing Brazil’s role in the global nuclear energy market.
Original Source: valorinternational.globo.com
