Angra Nuclear Power Plant
Encyclopedia
Angra Nuclear Power Plant is Brazil's sole nuclear power plant. It is located at the Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto (CNAAA) on the Itaorna Beach in Angra dos Reis
, Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
. It consists of two Pressurized water reactor
s, Angra I, with a net output of 657 MWe, first connected to the power grid in 1985 and Angra II, with a net output of 1,350 MWe, connected in 2000. Work on a third reactor, Angra III, with a projected output of 1,245 MWe, began in 1984 but was halted in 1986. Work started again on 1 June 2010 for entry into service in 2015.
, a state company with the monopoly
in nuclear power generation in Brazil. The complex employs some 3,000 people and generates another 10,000 indirect jobs in Rio de Janeiro state
.
Angra I was purchased from Westinghouse of the USA (its sister power plant is Krško Nuclear Power Plant
in Slovenia
), and the purchase did not include the transfer of sensitive reactor technology. As a result, Angra II was built with German technology, as part of a comprehensive nuclear agreement between Brazil and West Germany
signed by President Ernesto Geisel
in 1975. The complex was designed to have three PWR
units with a total output of around 3,000 MWe and was to be the first of 4 nuclear plants that would be built up to 1990.
but was halted in 1986. About 70% of the plant's equipment was purchased in 1985 but has been in storage ever since, consuming US$50 million a year in maintenance costs. In June 2007, restarting of construction was approved by the National Council for Energy Policy
. President approved the construction in July 2007. In December 2008, Eletronuclear signed an industrial cooperation agreement with Areva
. On 31 May 2010, the National Nuclear Energy Commission
granted a licence for construction of the third reactor. Construction of the reactor with capacity of 1,270 MWe begun on 1 June 2010 and it should be operational by 2015.
The name of the site where the power plant was built, called Itaorna, means "rotten stone" in the native Tupinamba language; this fact was unknown to the engineers before construction and became a focus of many jokes in Brazil.
The negative media impact of Angra caused the shelving of all other projected nuclear plants in Brazil (Iguape
, Peruíbe
and São Sebastião
).
Angra dos Reis
Angra dos Reis is a Brazilian municipality located in the southern part of Rio de Janeiro state. It is located at an altitude of 6 meters and includes in its territory 365 offshore islands. It was discovered on January 6, 1502, but has been under continual settlement since 1556. Its population...
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It consists of two Pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactors constitute a large majority of all western nuclear power plants and are one of three types of light water reactor , the other types being boiling water reactors and supercritical water reactors...
s, Angra I, with a net output of 657 MWe, first connected to the power grid in 1985 and Angra II, with a net output of 1,350 MWe, connected in 2000. Work on a third reactor, Angra III, with a projected output of 1,245 MWe, began in 1984 but was halted in 1986. Work started again on 1 June 2010 for entry into service in 2015.
Existing complex
The Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto complex is administrated by EletronuclearEletronuclear
Eletronuclear is a nuclear power company, which was established in 1997 in Brazil. It operates Angra Nuclear Power Plant. Eletronuclear is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eletrobrás....
, a state company with the monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
in nuclear power generation in Brazil. The complex employs some 3,000 people and generates another 10,000 indirect jobs in Rio de Janeiro state
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
.
Angra I was purchased from Westinghouse of the USA (its sister power plant is Krško Nuclear Power Plant
Krško Nuclear Power Plant
The Krško Nuclear Power Plant is located in Krško, Slovenia. The plant was connected to the power grid on October 2, 1981 and went into commercial operation on January 15, 1983...
in Slovenia
), and the purchase did not include the transfer of sensitive reactor technology. As a result, Angra II was built with German technology, as part of a comprehensive nuclear agreement between Brazil and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
signed by President Ernesto Geisel
Ernesto Geisel
Ernesto Beckmann Geisel, was a Brazilian military leader and politician of German descent who was President of Brazil from 1974 to 1979.-Early life and family:...
in 1975. The complex was designed to have three PWR
Pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactors constitute a large majority of all western nuclear power plants and are one of three types of light water reactor , the other types being boiling water reactors and supercritical water reactors...
units with a total output of around 3,000 MWe and was to be the first of 4 nuclear plants that would be built up to 1990.
Future developments
The development of Angra III began in 1984 as a a KWU pressurized water reactorPressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactors constitute a large majority of all western nuclear power plants and are one of three types of light water reactor , the other types being boiling water reactors and supercritical water reactors...
but was halted in 1986. About 70% of the plant's equipment was purchased in 1985 but has been in storage ever since, consuming US$50 million a year in maintenance costs. In June 2007, restarting of construction was approved by the National Council for Energy Policy
National Council for Energy Policy
The Brazilian National Council of Energy Policy was created by the law no. 9.478/1997 , also known as Petroleum Law. The council is the governmental organ of Brazil responsible for advise the Presidency of the Republic and has the objective of elaborating policies for the electric sector of the...
. President approved the construction in July 2007. In December 2008, Eletronuclear signed an industrial cooperation agreement with Areva
Areva
AREVA is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate headquartered in the Tour Areva in Courbevoie, Paris. AREVA is mainly known for nuclear power; it also has interests in other energy projects. It was created on 3 September 2001, by the merger of Framatome , Cogema and...
. On 31 May 2010, the National Nuclear Energy Commission
National Nuclear Energy Commission
The National Nuclear Energy Commission is the Brazilian government agency responsible for the orientation, planning, supervision, and control of Brazil's nuclear program. The agency was created on 10 October 1956...
granted a licence for construction of the third reactor. Construction of the reactor with capacity of 1,270 MWe begun on 1 June 2010 and it should be operational by 2015.
Controversy
The problems with Angra I and II construction relate to a number of technical issues during initial construction, and the following political fallout. Angra dos Reis city and its neighbors are composed of medium high and high income population, its economy relies in great part on tourism and above all the region is regarded by many as a sanctuary for marine life.The name of the site where the power plant was built, called Itaorna, means "rotten stone" in the native Tupinamba language; this fact was unknown to the engineers before construction and became a focus of many jokes in Brazil.
The negative media impact of Angra caused the shelving of all other projected nuclear plants in Brazil (Iguape
Iguape
Iguape is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2004 was 28,367 and the area is 1,985.4 km², making it the largest city by area in São Paulo state. The elevation is 3 m...
, Peruíbe
Peruíbe
Peruíbe is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2003 was 57,205, with a population density of 175.48/km² and a total area of...
and São Sebastião
São Sebastião, São Paulo
São Sebastião is a Brazilian city, located on the southeast coast of Brazil, in the state of São Paulo. The population in 2006 is 75,886, its density is 188.1/km² and the area is 403 km². The Tropic of Capricorn lies 25 km north...
).