Nuclear Power Plants: Angra 1 and 2 May Shut Down Due to Fuel Shortage, Generating a Cost of R$ 1.4 Billion on Electricity Bill

Ministry of Mines and Energy Highlights That Despite the Lack of Nuclear Fuel for Supply to Power Plants, There Is No Risk of Blackout

Due to the lack of nuclear fuel in 202, the Angra 1 and Angra 2 power plants are at risk of being shut down. The units are located on the southern coast of the State of Rio, and according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, there is no risk of blackout. Government Authorizes the Resumption of Construction of the Angra 3 Nuclear Power Plant in Rio de Janeiro

The warning was issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy when requesting additional resources in this year’s Budget from the Ministry of Economy. According to technicians, there is no risk to the energy supply in the Southeast, especially in Rio and São Paulo.

However, the MME recognizes that energy would become more expensive, as it would be necessary to activate thermal power plants with higher costs and more pollution to replace the nuclear plants.

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The estimate is that the extra cost for consumers would be R$ 1.4 billion per year, which corresponds to an increase of 5.1% in the total energy expenditure of Brazilians.

“It can be stated that the NPPs (technical term for nuclear power plants) Angra 1 and 2 play a fundamental role in meeting the electric energy demand of the Southeast/Central-West subsystems and the National Interconnected System (SIN)”, says the document

Read Other News About the Nuclear Power Plant in Angra dos Reis

• Eletronuclear Receives Advance of 2.5 Billion Reais to Resume Construction Works for the Angra 3 Nuclear Power Plant in 2020
• Angra 2 Nuclear Power Plant Will Be Shut Down for 22 Days
• Angra 3 Nuclear Power Plant Does Not Need International Financial Support to Be Built, Says President of Eletronuclear

The production of nuclear fuel for the Angra plants is supplied only by the Brazilian Nuclear Industries (INB). 

According to sources from Petronotícias, INB would need an extra budget of just over R$ 314 million to acquire the raw materials necessary for the production of fuel for the 27th refueling of Angra 1 and 17th refueling of Angra 2, scheduled for 2021. The company needs this budget now, as fuel production requires time and planning.

Therefore, the Ministry of Mines and Energy requested urgency from the Ministry of Economy in releasing more resources in the Budget, as if the refuels are not ready in time, the nuclear power plants may stop producing energy. This would also have consequences for Eletronuclear, as the company would stop selling energy and have its revenue generation compromised.

About Angra 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Plants

The only two nuclear power plants in operation in the country account for 10.3% of the generation capacity of the Southeast/Central-West system annually, according to data from the Ministry of Mines and Energy itself.

Last year, together, the Angra plants produced enough energy to supply, with a surplus, the state of Pernambuco, according to information from Eletronuclear.