Country Profile: Brazil (Observer)
BASIC FACTS
Brazil is anObserver Country of the NAM Movement
Officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, Brazilis a federal presidential republic situated in South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Capital: Brasília
Brazil initiated its pursuit of nuclear technology around 1951, intensifying efforts during its period under a military regime from 1964 to 1985 to achieve full competency across all phases of the nuclear fuel cycle. However, since the end of military rule, Brazil has renounced ambitions for military use of nuclear energy. Presently, it maintains a non-nuclear-weapon statusoperatinga civilian nuclear program in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Brazil joins Argentina and Mexico as the Latin America region’s only countries to have nuclear power programs. Unlike Argentina, which utilizes heavy water reactors, and Mexico, which relies boiling water reactors, Brazil operates two pressurized water reactors and plans the construction of a third.
Currently, Brazil’s nuclear fleet consists of two pressurized water reactors (PWR):ANGRA-1, with a net capacity of 609 MW(e) and ANGRA-2, with a net capacity of 1275 MW(e).Together, ANGRA-1 and ANGRA-2contribute approximately 3% of the nation’s totalelectricity generation. Brazil’s third nuclear reactor, ANGRA-3, a 1340 MW(e)PWR, remains under construction.
In additional to its nuclear reactors, Brazil also oversees industrial units dedicated to uranium mining and milling, enrichment, reconversion, pellet production, and fuel assembly. Brazil maintainsgood standing with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through active participation in technical cooperation programs and engagement in disarmament fora.
Brazilhas signed theTreaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in September of 2017, but has not yet ratified it.
TREATIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
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IAEA Membership (1957)
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Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) (1969)
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Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons(NPT) (1998)
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Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) (1998)
AGREEMENTS (In force)
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Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the IAEA (1966)
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Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (1993)
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Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (1987)
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Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (2022)
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Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1991)
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Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency (1991)
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Convention on Nuclear Safety (1997)
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Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (2006)
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Revised Supplementary Agreements Concerning the Provision of Technical Assistance by the IAEA (RSA) (1991)
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Agreement to further extend the Co-operation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL) (2020)
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Agreement between the Republic of Argentina and the Federal Republic of Brazil, the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards (1994)
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Exchange of letters in connection with the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (1997)
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Exchange of letters in connection with NPT and Tlatelolco Treaty (1999)
REGIONAL GROUPS
- Member of the Union of South American Nations
- Member of the Organization of American States (OAS)
- Member of the Organization of Ibero-American States
- Member of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
- Member of the G-77
- Member of the G-21
- Member of the New Agenda Coalition (NAC)
RECENT REPRESENTATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
- IAEA Board Member for 2019-2020
- IAEA Board Chair for 1999-2000 and 2015-2016
- Non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2004-2005 and 2010-2011
- Member of the 1540 Committee in 2004-2005 and 2010-2011
LINKS
Mission of Brazil to the United Nations
National Commission for Nuclear Energy
Ratification of Treaties & Memberships in International Organizations Related to Disarmament