nuclear-news

Bnamericas Monday, June 15, 2020  The COVID-19 crisis will likely delay the continuation of construction works at Brazil’s 1.4GW Angra 3 nuclear power plant in Rio de Janeiro state, according to a sector expert.The process to resume works have not stopped despite the pandemic but it is behind schedule, Claudio Almeida, president of Brazilian nuclear power association Aben, told BNamericas.

Works on Angra 3 have been ongoing for 35 years and are 62% complete.

The current timetable states that the plant will start operations by 2026, a deadline that has become increasingly unlikely due to COVID-19.

“The expectation was to hold a tender this year but this will depend on how the pandemic evolves, as many of the negotiations with foreign firms cannot be held online. Delays to the start of operations will probably be proportional to those postponements of the tender process,” said Almeida.  ……

“The required investments are very high and a part of it will be made by Eletrobras, but another part will come from the negotiations with the firm that wins the tender. Brazil’s currency has been oscillating a lot and although I believe it will stabilize in the future this will have an impact because part of the works that will be contracted abroad,” Almeida said.    …..

Some of the companies interested in the works to complete Angra 3 include China’s CNNC, Russia‘s Rosatom, US-based Westinghouse, Areva from France, and South Korean firm Kepco.

Access to financing will be a key factor for who wins the tender, according to sector experts.    …..