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Learn how Navy Technology can accelerate small modular reactors and strengthen the expansion of nuclear energy in Brazil.
The knowledge accumulated by the Navy’s Nuclear Program can become one of the main pillars for the Brazilian development of small modular reactors (SMRs). The assessment gained momentum after the visit of representatives from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) to the Aramar Nuclear Industrial Center (CINA), in Iperó (SP), held on June 18, when the capabilities of the Nuclear Power Generation Laboratory (LABGENE) were presented.
According to a publication by the Brazilian Navy on June 22, 2026, although the laboratory was created to meet the needs of naval nuclear propulsion, the technological mastery achieved over decades can support future projects aimed at generating nuclear energy for civilian applications. The infrastructure brings together competencies considered strategic to reduce costs, accelerate research, and strengthen Brazilian technological autonomy.
Navy gathers Technology that can accelerate the development of small modular reactors
LABGENE is one of the main enterprises of the Navy’s Nuclear Program. Its mission is to build, integrate, qualify, operate, and validate, on land, the nuclear propulsion system based on a pressurized water reactor (PWR).
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In practice, however, the project ended up gathering a set of knowledge that goes beyond military application. Today, authorities and institutions linked to the nuclear sector evaluate the structure as an opportunity to support future national initiatives involving small modular reactors, a technology that is gaining ground in various countries.
During the visit, representatives from CNPq and MME also visited the Isotopic Enrichment Laboratory (LEI) and the Uranium Hexafluoride Production Unit (USEXA), responsible for fundamental stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Structure built over decades expands possibilities for new projects
The development of LABGENE allowed Brazil to accumulate experience in highly specialized areas, fundamental for any modern nuclear program.
Among the consolidated competencies are:
- Nuclear engineering;
- Nuclear safety;
- Industrial automation;
- High precision instrumentation;
- Integration of complex systems;
- Manufacturing of strategic equipment;
- Operation of nuclear facilities.
This technological heritage can significantly reduce the time needed to develop new projects by leveraging existing infrastructure and already qualified professionals.
Brazilian technology follows the global trend of nuclear energy
The small modular reactors are identified by international organizations and the industry as one of the main trends in nuclear energy for the coming decades.
Unlike large conventional plants, these reactors have smaller dimensions and can be partially produced in series, reducing construction costs and facilitating deployment.
Moreover, they offer important advantages:
- Low carbon emissions;
- High safety standards;
- Greater installation flexibility;
- Gradual expansion of generation capacity;
- Ability to serve isolated regions.
This set of characteristics makes SMRs studied for applications that go far beyond traditional electricity production.
Technical specifications of LABGENE
| Characteristic | Information |
| Project | LABGENE |
| Location | Nuclear Industrial Center of Aramar (Iperó-SP) |
| Program | Navy Nuclear Program |
| Technology | Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) |
| Original objective | Land prototype of naval nuclear propulsion |
| Future applications | Development of SMRs, research, testing, and training |
Nuclear energy can serve sectors that require continuous supply
According to the Undersecretary of Governance of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Dênis de Moura Soares, the small modular reactors can serve enterprises that require a high level of reliability in energy supply.
Among them are:
- Large industries;
- Data processing centers (data centers);
- Mining operations;
- Offshore platforms;
- Low-carbon hydrogen production.
For the MME representative, the characteristics of modularity, reliability, and the possibility of serial production make this a promising solution for Brazil’s energy future.
Navy intends to transform LABGENE into a national reference
The proposal presented by the Navy goes beyond using the laboratory in its own strategic programs.
The intention is for LABGENE to be recognized as a national technical reference for research, testing, and validations related to small modular reactors, supporting future initiatives conducted by the federal government.
The institution’s assessment is that using an already consolidated structure can reduce initial costs, optimize public resources, and decrease risks in the development phases of new projects.
Additionally, the laboratory could contribute to:
- Training of specialized professionals;
- Development of technical standards;
- Safety and licensing studies;
- Integration between universities, government, and industry.
Technology strengthens the industry and expands Brazil’s autonomy
The General Director of Nuclear and Technological Development of the Navy, Admiral Alexandre Rabello de Faria, highlighted that the competencies accumulated over decades represent a strategic opportunity to strengthen the Defense Industrial Base and expand Brazilian technological autonomy.
According to him, all this infrastructure built by the Navy’s Nuclear Program can serve as a basis for future national initiatives involving peaceful applications of nuclear energy.
The proposal also reinforces the importance of leveraging investments already made in science and engineering to accelerate new technological solutions.
Science, research, and professional training will be decisive
Another point highlighted during the visit was the need to maintain continuous investments in research and specialist training.
For the president of CNPq, Olival Freire Junior, the stage reached by Brazil in the nuclear area is the result of work carried out by several generations of scientists, engineers, and military personnel.
He emphasized that the advancement of small modular reactors will depend on the integration between universities, research centers, the productive sector, and government agencies, strengthening the national capacity for innovation.
A technological heritage that can define the next steps of the sector
The advancement of LABGENE demonstrates that the knowledge developed by the Navy’s Nuclear Program already surpasses the original objectives of naval propulsion. The competencies gathered in engineering, automation, safety, and operation of nuclear facilities place Brazil in a relevant position to discuss the future of small modular reactors.
If these capabilities are incorporated into future public policies, the country may accelerate projects related to nuclear energy, expand its technological autonomy, and create new opportunities for the national industry. In a scenario of growing demand for reliable and low-carbon emission energy, leveraging this structure could represent an important step for Brazilian scientific, industrial, and energy development.
