Eletronuclear Resumes Nuclear Energy Generation for the National Interconnected System at Angra 2 Plant

After a few weeks shut down due to operation failures, the Angra 2 nuclear power plant resumed production. Eletronuclear announced the return of resource generation and distribution to the National Interconnected Energy System.

One of the most important nuclear power generation plants in Brazil, the Angra 2 plant, located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, has resumed its operations and is generating power normally this Wednesday, (12/07). Eletronuclear had announced the indefinite shutdown of the plant during November due to motor failures. However, the issues have been resolved, and the plant is back to generating power for the National Interconnected System.

Motor Problems at Angra 2 Have Been Resolved and the Nuclear Power Plant Has Resumed Operations for the National Interconnected System, Announced Eletronuclear

The state of Rio de Janeiro is a national reference in nuclear power generation due to its production projects known as “Angra.”

One of the main resource production plants is Angra 2, located in the Angra dos Reis region. It supplies energy directly to the National Interconnected System and contributes to the energy security of the area.

However, on November 15, Eletronuclear announced the indefinite suspension of operations due to trigger of the ground fault protection for the main generator rotor in the non-nuclear part of the plant.

As a result, the plant was shut down for several weeks, and consequently, it was unable to supply power to the National Interconnected System.

Despite this, the energy company announced this week the resumption of operations, as all motor failures have been resolved.

Eletronuclear also announced that the equipment needed to be disassembled by the company’s professionals to identify the cause of the problem, but everything has been resolved.

“The incident posed no risk to the workers at Angra 2, the public, or the environment,” said the company.

Despite the announcements, the problems at the plant are raising concerns about the national energy landscape, given that this was the second shutdown that occurred only during November at Angra 2.

The operating company of the nuclear power plant will now continue with resource production and supply to the National Interconnected System.

Learn About the Angra 2 Nuclear Power Plant

The second Brazilian nuclear plant began commercial operation in 2001. With a capacity of 1,350 megawatts, Angra 2 can meet the consumption of a city of 2 million inhabitants, such as Belo Horizonte.

The construction of Angra 2 facilitated technology transfer to Brazil, leading the country to an independent technological development, resulting in mastery over nearly all stages of nuclear fuel manufacturing. Thus, Eletrobras Eletronuclear and the national nuclear industry now gather qualified professionals attuned to the state of the art in the sector.

Learn More About Eletronuclear

Eletronuclear was created in 1997 with the purpose of operating and constructing nuclear power plants in Brazil. A subsidiary of ENBPar, it is a mixed-economy company responsible for generating approximately 3% of the electricity consumed in Brazil.

Through the interconnected electric system, this energy reaches the main consumer centers in the country and accounts for, for example, over 30% of the electricity consumed in the State of Rio de Janeiro, a proportion that will increase significantly when Angra 3, the third plant of the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Nuclear Power Station — CNAAA is completed.