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The Construction Of The Angra 3 Nuclear Power Plant, Begun In 1981, Faces Another Delay. With Billion-Dollar Costs, The Operation Has Been Rescheduled For 2030 Or 2031.
For decades, the construction of the Angra 3 nuclear power plant has been synonymous with unfulfilled promises and billions of dollars being drained without concrete results.
The project, which should have been operational a long time ago, continues to frustrate expectations.
Now, another obstacle arises: the initial forecast for operation between 2027 and 2028 is no longer valid.
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According to Eletronuclear, new deadlines push the operation of Angra 3 to the end of 2030 or even 2031. The reason? Bidding, contract signings, and all the bureaucracy involved in the completion process of the plant.
And this is not the only problem. The project will require an additional R$ 23 billion and will still need to face questions from the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), which points to the risk of new delays, as shown by the Valor Econômico Journal.
The Federal Court of Accounts, in turn, highlights more complications. A public oversight report indicated that there is a three-year delay in hiring the construction company that will be responsible for executing the next phases.
Furthermore, the contract for supplying heat exchangers, essential for the operation of the plant, is also facing issues.
The company Nuclebrás Equipamentos Pesados (Nuclep), responsible for producing these equipment, is nine months behind schedule, which may cause further delays in the project’s delivery.
According to the TCU report, the current delay does not compromise the overall schedule, but there is fear that new problems could directly impact the project.
The construction of Angra 3 began in 1981, but the works were halted in 1984.
In 2010, the government attempted to resume construction, but in 2015, with two-thirds of the plant already completed, the project was suspended again due to the developments of Operation Lava Jato, which revealed a corruption scheme at Eletronuclear.
The Drama Of Billion-Dollar Contributions
The financial issue has been one of the main obstacles to completing the plant. According to BNDES, continuing the construction of Angra 3 will require R$ 23 billion, while abandoning the project would have an estimated cost of R$ 21 billion.
In other words, abandoning the project now would be almost as costly as finishing it. Furthermore, BNDES highlighted that part of the R$ 23 billion needed has already been secured through contracted financing, which will be released in the upcoming years.
The president of Eletronuclear, Raul Lycurgo, advocated for the urgency of a final decision regarding the future of Angra 3.
He stated that the impasse is costing Brazil dearly and that, if the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) approves the continuation of the works this year, the bidding for resuming the project could occur by June 2025, with contract signings expected for the second half of 2025.
In this scenario, the works would resume between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, with completion projected in five years.
Angra 3, which has the potential to generate 1,405 megawatts (MW), has already consumed R$ 12 billion just for the maintenance of the equipment acquired between 2009 and 2023.
These equipment are stored in different locations, such as Angra dos Reis and at Nuclep facilities.
The cost of not completing the project also includes the return of R$ 1.5 billion in tax incentives obtained from the importation of equipment for the plant, in addition to capital contributions from the National Treasury and Eletrobras, as shareholders, to cover the costs of abandonment.
The Weight Of Energy On The Consumer’s Wallet
Another important factor involving the future of Angra 3 is the impact on energy costs.
According to the president of Eletronuclear, the estimated production price of energy from the plant, at R$ 660 per megawatt-hour (MWh), would be competitive compared to the thermal plants activated to maintain reservoir levels, which can cost over R$ 1,000 per MWh.
For comparison purposes, Angra 1 and Angra 2, which are already operational, have generation tariffs of R$ 355 per MWh.
If Angra 3 had been built at the same time as Angra 2, costs would have been much lower, as Lycurgo emphasized.
Now, Brazil needs to decide whether to continue pouring money into this seemingly endless project or to bear the losses of abandoning it once and for all.
The Future Of Angra 3 Remains Uncertain, And The Costs Of This Indecision Are Extremely High. Do You Think Brazil Should Continue With The Project Or Is It Time To Abandon Construction Once And For All?
Concernente a pergunta ao final. Eu tenho certeza que essa obra tem que ser concluída. É vexatório e é cada vez mais caro essa demora em decidir construir. Demonstra incapacidade de gestão e compromisso com o Brasil. O governo anterior demorou mas foi até corajoso em assumir desde o início em continuar. Não sei como fariam acontecer o progresso ou se concluiria mas encerrou o mandato com as obras iniciadas. Esse governo atual é dito por muitos de ser de progresso das obras públicas, mas com essa postura está jogando a reputação no lixo. Muitos torcem para que a decisão seja logo pelo sim. Há uma ala de seguidores contumas decidos em torcer contra. Mas a reputação deles sobre esse tema está nas suas próprias mãos que “é decidir positivamente” e urgente.