Brazil Revives Ruclear Power Plant

cnn.com ^ | July 31, 2008 | staff

[kellynla]

ANGRA DOS REIS, Brazil (CNN) -- A government-controlled firm is forging ahead with plans to resume expansion of Brazil's nuclear power program.

The Brazilian government has authorized the company, Electronuclear, to go back to work on the nation's third nuclear power plant.

Work on the Angra 3 reactor, near Rio de Janeiro, has been stalled for 22 years by a lack of money and political issues.

But the administration of President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva is turning to nuclear power to meet electricity needs that are growing with the country's booming economy.

"Things have changed a lot, and today it's clearer to everyone that nuclear energy has a role to play in the Brazilian electrical system, just like the other forms of producing electricity, which can't be dismissed," said Leonam Guimaraes, an Electronuclear spokesman.

Brazil is the 10th-largest energy consumer in the world, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. It's the third-largest consumer in the Western Hemisphere, behind the United States and Canada.

The two operational nuclear power plants in Brazil supply about 3 percent of the nation's electricity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The other countries in the Western Hemisphere that use nuclear power to generate electricity are Mexico (where nuclear power generates 5 percent of electricity), Argentina (7 percent), Canada (16 percent) and the United States (19 percent), according to the atomic agency.

France generates more electrical power with nuclear reactors than any other nation (78 percent), followed by Lithuania (72 percent), Slovakia (57 percent) and Belgium (54 percent), the agency said.

Brazil's two reactors went into use in 1985 and 2000. They supply about half the electrical power used in the state of Rio de Janeiro, according to Electronuclear.

[kellynla]

"Electronuclear plans to begin construction work on Angra 3 in February and hopes that it will generate electricity by 2014, when Brazil will host the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament."

[edcoil]

“Ruclear” sounds North Korean.

[kellynla]

oops!

The title should read “ Brazil Revives Nuclear Power Plant”

Thanks

[Future Snake Eater]

"Ruclear Power? Veeewy intellesting!"

[Red Badger]

RUH-ROH!————THAT’s RONERY!!!!..............

[dforest]

I am all for Ruclear Energy. Sounds better.

[Red Badger]

The title should read “ Brazil Revives Nuclear Power Plant”

R-U CLEAR about that?...............

[Red Badger]

“Ruclear” sounds North Korean.

Of course! THEY don't have a problem with RUCLEAR power!................