Brazzil

The reason why more nuclear plants are not being built in leading economies is that when the cost to build, maintain, and dispose of waste is computed the power produced will be more costly than almost all other methods including several "green" options. The price of labor in Brasil may be less but construction materials and transport are nearly the same world wide. This means nuclear power plants are only built with government subsidies, even in Brasil. It's laudable to proclaim your purposes are peaceful but in cases like Iran it's hardly believable, and in the case of Brasil it doesn't make sense though Brasil has a peaceful record and seemingly wise leadership at the moment.

Other than that, I found your headline a bit aggressive though that did not show up in the text. The writers here seem to measure Brasil against the United States constantly and often fall into useless chestpuffing. As an American I can tell you we picked up the nuclear weapon in the middle of a world war and have been trying to put it down ever since; it's the curse of the age. Anything but nuclear weapons for Brasil, please.

Dewolfe

Even though the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) is financed by the United States they claim is a think tank established in 1975 to discuss and promote inter-American relationship.

But when the author said: “Though Brasilia ostensibly continues to be a U.S. political ally, the South American country with the largest economy could potentially challenge the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere in the near future.

If Washington persists in paying less than ample attention to the emerging superpower, it may soon be shocked by Brazil's potential to have a China-like, booming economy, increased nuclear capabilities, a growing self-confidence in its own power and an ability to make its own way.”

It seems that (COHA) is more concerned about keeping Brazil down than anything else, and from (COHA’s) point of view if Brazil becomes a major world power they make it sound like that is a real problem for the United States.

Bulls**t in a nutshell: “to discuss and promote inter-American relationship.”
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“to discuss and promote inter-American relationship.”

Maybe the relationship that they are talking about is a divorce.

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Sinceramente, o texto é ridículo e não merece muitos comentários.

power to help turn on the lights in schools , grate.
power to run hospitals grate.
power for factories to improve the people .

but not to build wepons even better
to build nuke powered commicrl ship very good

Brazil needs nuclear in some areas where hydroelectric is not feasible, and for grid backup.

Rest assured that I was never shot down. Thanks for posting a beautiful audio clip. Was the song in Russian?

We need to be careful when dealing with nuclear power. We cannot forget Chernobyl and the problem dealing with nuclear trash.

I wish Brazil would introduce the fourth generation of nuclear reactors. This new type of reactor generates less nuclear garbage and are much safer.

However, in my opinion, Brazil will not be a truly nuclear power because we do not have all the technology. We buy the reactors however we do know how to purify the fuel to reach nuclear grade.

The biggest issue we all should be very concerned about is the fact that in Brazil would be possible to someone steal the nuclear fuel for terrorists activities.

As a Brazilian, I want to see my country evolving technologically so our people would have access to cheaper energy (as a physicist and engineer, I dream of a better technological future for all humankind) but I also hope that we are careful enough with this type of technology because its potential to cause so much harm.

the only thing americans have noticed about brazil,,,is brazil,s illegal trafficking of its nationals to the u.s.a. via mexico...And !! its predominately illegal brazilians in the u.s.a. on long expired tourist visas... This is one export from brazil most of america wants returned to the sender....No thanks Brazil !!!!...

would take at least 20 years as brasil has
not enough school trained people to do it any faster
just to start and make it a growing fact .

yes brazil has a ton of cheep laubor but not very many to guide them

There are many people I know, in Brazil and the US, that has no more than HS diploma but master, for example, software programming pretty well. I know two guys, in particular, one here in the US and another in Brazil, both with no college education but run very profitable tech companies.

You are right though. I would add, that we need massive investment on education,specially for technical, engineering and scientific programs in Brazil. I do not see any politician in my country that would be really willing to that, it is not very popular thing to do.

I do not see any politician in my country that would be really willing to that, it is not very popular thing to do.

Good comment. It is more popular and profitable to rebuild the UNE building! Who wants to invest money in "Technical, Engineering and Scientific" programs.The students of such programs question too much about the acts of our "rulers"!!

3 barely working nuke plants make a nuclear superpower?

Oooooohkay.

Been smoking a little too much of the ol' loco weed lately, have we Elizabeth?

To be honest, I do not know many Brazilians illegal in the USA (BTW, all members of my family in the US are legal and most of them hold US citizenship by choice).

I noticed that it is very easy for Brazilians (specially women) to get married quickly and by doing so resolving the visa issue.

This subject is much exaggerated maybe for xenophobic reasons (I am not calling you that though).

I also noticed that most of the Brazilians I know do hold engineering jobs (such as me), college professorship, prominent scientific positions in many US organizations (including NASA, many national laboratories, and institutes of research) and some Brazilians are entrepreneurs.

Of course, you also get the not so educated Brazilians but you would be very surprised to know that many of them also managed to get an education, a permanent visa, open business, etc.

We have many Americans living in Brazil, working or enjoying retirement. But I am also willing to bet you that we, in Brazil, have many Americans hiding from the US police or Interpol.

That´s what makes horse racing, but technically it would be a little difficult in view of the requirements for a visa.

Your gene pool could use a little chlorine.

Costa

If I were in any pool that you had been in, I would really make sure it was properly chlorinated.

I think you are confused again… That’s the side effect of taking such massive dosages of female hormones all the time.

Let me try to explain again… I said GENE POOL, not to be confused you’re your CESSPOOL!

Got that? Hope this helps…

Costinha

Well, if it helps you, that´s OK with me.

The interaction between the two of you is simply delightful...
It reminds me of school boys in Grade School...
Well, the (old) teacher is now watching... LOL

I just could not resist the joke - no harm intended to either of you

A superpower with 3 nuclear reactors in the next several years ?????
Then a mouse is larger than an elephant, using the same explanation !!!!

Another joke in the article "Brazil will no doubt join the ranks of major world powers this century."
May be only. Will see in 92 years..at the end of the century !!!!
Angra 3 has been in the drawers, on the table, in the drawers, for already 22 years and still is not built, just talked about regularly.
What Brazilians promise is not a guarantee of execution. Not even in one century.
and yet...not even if it is written in the Constitution.
Have you not abolished slavery well over a century ago ????
Where do you stand in 2008 ?
Why are still thousands of slaves workers freed every year, despite your Vice President Açucar (Alencar) public guarantee there are no more slaves workers ????

And to Ricardo Amaral : I suggest you read more articles from COHA.
No doubt they are not paid by the USA, but by the Disinformation & Propaganda Dept, located in the Plan Alto Palace !!!!

And sorry to all Brazilians but neither Electrobras or one of its subsidiary had/has the know how, technology or expertise to build the nuclear reactor in Angra 1, 2 or 3. Will see for Angra 4,5 in the second half of the century, eventually.
Yess you eventually will build the cooling Water Tower, and the connection cables to the grid. Ohhh and also the canteen and the administrative offices of course.

Stupid question to the citizens of the eventual Nuclear Superpower : When and if Brazil will have built Angra 3, then only will you consider yourselves as a Nuclear Superpower.
Then would you allow a country with existing 5 Nuclear Plants in operations to also call itsélf a Nuclear Superpower ???
In my view you should, if fair you are ! Correct ?

Good, then Switzerland is already for well over a decade a Nuclear Superpower ! And not using foreign technology but had developed its own...from A to Z !
And yesss we already have in operations 5 Nuclear Power Plants !!!!

22 year old nuclear technology has been retired, you can’t made a 2008 car from a 22 year old frame. America decommissioned two Nuclear power plants that were 20 years old. Yet again Brazil hopes to have toys like the big boys.

yes mail order brides come to the US and other places very quick !

but if you live in brasil and marry one it is a different matter , it took over 2 years for my wife to get her visa as i do not live in the US I had to prove i could support her if we were ever to return to the states they did not want another person on welfare , WHAT A JOKE THAT IS , look at all thoes that are on it now that dont deserv it .

there many minds in brasil going to waste as no real education for them they can only go as far as the class system will let them go .

I do not blame any person for trying to better themselves by leaving a repressed government state , mas long as it is not for going to live off the fat of another country .

and yes there are a bunch of people hiding in brasil , but look at how many crooks from other lands are trying to hide in the US .

18 mexicans on death roo in the US 9 of them are wanted for killing someone in mexico . we will kill them first then send them back to mexico .
4 brasilians are also there for same reason 1200 brasilians are in prison in the US for realted drug , theft , asults , but you only here about the few who go to jail and dont tell the guards that they ate all there drugs and die of an overdoes .

next year the new type reactor will be off the paper and be ready to be built somewhere in the world , much smaller , and safer ,.

BUT all brasil would have to do is place curent genarators in the rivers on a guear box there would be plenty of power and very little expence , with all the free folwing rivers in the country .

i built one on BELLA island whitch from a 10 cm pipe from the river made power for my home and shop , i here it is used to power a school now .did not spend but $2.500 us on it , and paied on bill for power for 2 years

In any population you find good and bad people. There are Brazilians in jail in the US, maybe so many, I cannot check your statistic but there are many more Brazilians contributing to the wealth of your country and about this I am pretty sure.

I am not worried that Americans are in Brazil. Actually, I think that is great and I even believe that they should enjoy their time there. Since my family is a huge mix of Europeans, Brazilians and Americans I am comfortable and happy with a culturally rich family.
I accept that coming to the US by illegal ways is totally wrong. If you want to be in this country you need to do that legally. So I did since the very beginning up to this day.

Back to the reactors: When I was living in Brazil, my father was involved in the research of the famous but so far not very successful Thorium reactor. That time Brazil was trying to do the same as the more advanced countries (with much less money, of course). Today, Brazilian government thinks that most of high tech knowhow should come from other countries. Bad choice! This mentality is awkward and thoughtless. When we want something, we go to the international high tech supermarket and buy what we need. We should develop our own technology .Of courses, there exceptions here and there (Embraer, Petrobras, etc) but for us to become a superpower we need much, much more.

We could and should become a high tech superpower along with the agriculture and that should be top priority. To achieve that objective the government and society in general should focus fundamentally in education as the first step. You cannot have a high tech industrial park without specialists at all levels.

The amount of energy corresponding to Angra 1 and
Angra 2 included in the “Initial Contracts” mentioned in
item IV is 1,266 MW and was assigned to the contracts
between FURNAS and the distributors operating in its
concession area. The supply of energy from Angra 1 and

Angra 2 has up to now been covered by contracts between
ELETRONUCLEAR and FURNAS (from May, 1997 to
July, 2001 for Angra 1 only and after July, 2001 for both
Angra 1 and Angra 2).
The operational costs of Angra 1 and Angra 2 are
indicated in Table II. These costs were computed on the
basis of the gross energy generated by both plants in
2003, which totaled 13,336,037 MWh.
Table II. Operational Costs of Angra 1 and Angra 2.
Item Cost (US$ / MWh)
O & M 10.37
Fuel 3.09
Depreciation 4.33
The income from the production of energy from
Angra 1 and Angra 2, under the present
commercialization conditions, is insufficient to cover
ELETRONUCLEAR’s total costs, mainly because:
− The average net supply from Angra 1 and Angra 2 is
about 1,500 MW, so that about 234 MW of excess
supply from ELETRONUCLEAR are valued by
the spot market price (today about 6 US$/MWh)
and credited to ELETRONUCLEAR.
− ELETRONUCLEAR’s income, composed by the
credit from the contracted energy (1,266 MW with a
26 US$/MWh tariff) plus the credit from the excess
supply (234 MW with a 6 US$/MWh spot market
price), totals about 300 million dollars a year, while
the present operational costs of ELETRONUCLEAR
totals about 360 million dollars a year.

In consequence of these difficulties,
ELETRONUCLEAR has registered financial losses for
the past four fiscal years (2000 to 2003). Such losses have
been covered by ELETRONUCLEAR’s government-
controlled holding company (ELETROBRAS

Participation of the Nuclear Power Plants in the New Brazilian Electric Energy Market
By SERGIO GONÇALVES MATHIAS

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=39FBDC27F8073AFD0834A01E490113E8?purl=/840378-oHHs0o/native/

click on the pdf file to see the whole report

ts detractors cite the health risks posed by potential leaks, such as the ones discovered at French power plants in July that resulted in contaminated drinking water, and Brazil's flawed radioactive waste disposal program that allows for an insufficient number of repositories for hazardous waste material. Radioactive waste is currently being stored at the plants themselves, while Brazilian officials determine a more concrete long-term plan of action

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If something happens to the water table, do you really think the Brazilian government will compensate its citizens?

Politico: Ah, lets build and worry about storage of radioactive waste later on...how about after the carnival?

GREENPEACE: Carnaval is over, can we have a definite plan?

Politico: Ah, but we can discuss after Easter, but we'll definitely talk today after lunch (11:00 AM).

GREENPEACE: OK, its 3:00 PM and I am still waiting...

Politico: Hey, Greenpeace, you still here. Just a second I have to answer a very important phone call, can you wait a minute or so?

GREENPEACE: ...an hour later...

Politico: Man, I have to tell is 4:00 PM, and I gotta go. Traffic is terrible in Rio. Not to worry, next week we'll catch up!

GREENPEACE: Next week!!! I came here on a week visit. What do you mean next week.

Politico: You know, next Monday is a holiday in Rio, and most government agencies stop working on Thursday (a velha mania de enforcar trabalho).

...6 months later

GREENPEACE: Can we have a definite plan?

"it may soon be shocked by Brazil's potential to have a China-like, booming economy, increased nuclear capabilities, a growing self-confidence in its own power and an ability to make its own way."

this is the kind of thinking that creates anti-americanism. It makes it seems that US should intervene to prevent other countries from developing!

Ridiculous!

Well, we all know that good USA wants the Amazon and the same goes for European nations. So if any nation wishes to invade Brazil, we can nuke them out of this planet, or is it just USA that can use Nuclear Weapon as they did in WWII and then go invade Korea,Vietanm,Panama and of course oil rich Iraq in name of Democracy. Have oil??? USA will invade? Be carefull Iran!!!! Also if USA wishes to impose Democracy, why not invade CHINA or RUSSIA ? The reason is simple, USA will get their ass kicked so bad it will make Vietnam look like a street fight. Protect yourself Brazil from Bush and European Nations. The problem is that Brazil will become the most powerfull Nation in this Planet and USA and the BIG G8 don't want that to happen. Peace !!!!

USA is the only country with the right ,given by the Lord, to have nuclear bombs, so lets send all nukes to them as they love them...
Lets put a nuke inside NY and all over their country...Because if a country wants to develop in any way they cant do it, cause USA has the power of truth...