Brazil’s Empresa Brasileira de Participações em Energia Nuclear e Binacional (ENBPar) and Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which seeks to promote energy nuclear as a “green” energy source, safe and inducing socioeconomic growth.

“The idea is for us to take advantage of the great experience Rosatom has in the nuclear sector, learn about the entire production cycle of this type of energy and be able to apply it in Brazil”, said Ney Zanella, CEO of ENBPar, a state-owned company linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).

The MoU does not generate financial obligations, it only aligns the expectations of the two companies regarding the use of this type of energy, in addition to reinforcing agendas of bilateral interest.

The parties emphasise promoting mutual cooperation including, but not limited to:

  • Life Cycle maintenance, operation and decommissioning of existing high-capacity NPPs in Brazil;
  • Construction, life cycle maintenance, operation and decommissioning of new high-capacity NPPs, based on Russian technologies, in Brazil;
  • Construction, life-cycle maintenance, operation and decommissioning of new low-capacity terrestrial and floating NPPs based on Russian technologies in Brazil;
  • Supply of existing and future NPPs in Brazil with goods and services in the initial and final phases of the fuel cycle – nuclear: uranium products (in particular, HALEU – uranium enriched to between 5%, and 20%), uranium conversion and enrichment services, as well as solutions for fuel management and radioactive waste resulting from its processing;
  • Training, retraining and requalification of specialists in the field of the application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes;
  • Adequate clarification of society on the benefits of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes;
  • Interaction with the IAEA and other international organisations to promote nuclear energy as a low-carbon "green" energy source;
  • Cooperation in the field of operation, repair and modernisation of hydroelectric power plants in Brazil;
  • Exchange of information and cooperation in research in specific areas; and
  • Mutual visits by delegations of experts and visits at top level of administration for the exchange of views on macro issues of development and cooperation prospects.

Image: Signing of the MoU by Rosatom's Kirill Komarov (left) and CEO of ENBPar, Ney Zanella dos Santos (courtesy of ENBPar)