Brazil authorizes partnership with private sector in the exploration of nuclear ores

The Brazilian government published this Friday (12) a provisional measure that allows the participation of the private sector in the exploration of nuclear ores in the country through a partnership with a Brazilian state-owned company, with the objective of reducing costs.

Currently, the activities of research, mining, enrichment, industrialization and trade of nuclear ores and derivatives are carried out exclusively by INB (Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil SA).

The new legislation allows new models of association to be made between INB and private partners for the exploration of mineral deposits that have nuclear ores.

“Despite being rich in nuclear ores, Brazil currently imports most of the inputs needed to manufacture nuclear fuel to supply the Angra I and II plants. This results in higher costs for producing the fuel and the loss of business opportunities , both in Brazil and abroad”, said the Ministry of Mines and Energy, in a note.

In this sense, with the update of the legislation, it is expected that INB, in partnership with the private sector, will increase investments in research and mining and the national production capacity of uranium, added the ministry.

The provisional measure also updates the legal framework of the nuclear mineral exploration sector, which dates from the 1960s and 1970s.

“Such modification seeks to insert Brazil in the scenario of good international practices, modernizing the activities of research and mining of these ores.”

The MP also authorizes ENBpar (Empresa Brasileira de Participações em Energia Nuclear e Binacional SA) to become the controller of INB.

ENBpar was created after the privatization of Eletrobras, taking over activities that cannot be privatized, with those linked to the nuclear sector.