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Brazil is a federal republic in South America, bounded on the north, west and south by every country of the continent except Chile and Ecuador, and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, along 7,400 km (4,600 miles) of coastline. The country covers an area of 8,514,215.3 km², about half of all of South America, and is the world's fifth largest country in area. The single most important influence on Brazil's climate is its location on the equator. Temperatures seldom exceed 35°C in the tropics owing to the moderating effects of high atmospheric humidity. Most of Brazil receives a moderate rainfall of 1,000-1,500 mm (40-60 in), although the Amazon lowlands and several other areas receive more than 2,030 mm (80 in) of rainfall annually. The semi-arid northeastern interior, or "Sertao", frequently suffers from very long droughts. Tropical rain forest, or "Selva", is found in the wettest part of the Amazon Basin. Much of the south and southwest of Brazil is covered by savanna, or tropical grassland, and in the interior of the northeast, caatinga, a low and bushy scrub and thorn forest is characteristic.

Brazil's three major river systems are: the Parana-Paraguay-Plata in the south, the Sao Francisco in the east, and the Amazon in the north. The Amazon, the major river of South America, is the world's second longest river (6,440 km/4,000 miles), and most of its basin lies within Brazil. The Amazon river's major tributaries are the Tocantins-Araguaia, the Madeira, the Negro, the Xingu and the Tapajos.

In 2010, when the last Brazilian Census occurred, the population of the country was about 190.8 million, corresponding to a population density of 22.43 inhabitants per km². The population growth rate from 2010 to 2012 was 0.81% per year. Most Brazilians live in high-density areas of eastern Brazil, along the coast or the major rivers. In 2010, about 84.4% of the people lived in urban areas. The historical population information is shown in table 1.

TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

*Estimate for July 1, 2012

Source: IBGE – Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistic

According the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistic, in 2011, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 2,475,066 million of current US$ and the GDP per capita was 12,696 current US$. The increase of the GDP per capita in the period 2000-2010 happened simultaneously with income distribution. In this period, Brazilian social mobility was remarkable, since more than 40 million people left the condition of extreme poverty. This information is relevant because social mobility significantly increased the number of normal consumers and, as a consequence, the demand for all good and services, including energy.

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

*Updated to 2011 by using the Consumer Price Index

Sources: IBGE – Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistic

Brazil has one of the largest hydroelectric potentials in the world. The hydro resources located in the north-east, south-east and south of the country have already been thoroughly surveyed. The hydroelectric potential of north and central west regions, which cover practically Brazil's Amazon area, are being tapped to partially meet both regional and national electric needs. Brazilian estimated energy reserves are shown in table 3.

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED ENERGY RESERVES

Historically, the expansion of the energy sector represented a dynamic aspect on the process of industrialization and modernization of economic and social structures in Brazil. This expansion has provided the energy needed for this process and has stimulated the development of productive sectors. During the last decades, Brazilian development was mainly induced by the State's direct action. Table 4 shows the historical energy statistics.

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS

Primary Energy Production

Energy values are in 10⁶ t of oil equivalent (toe)

Annual Average Decrease Rate of External Dependence on Energy for the period 2002-2011 – -2,48 %

Remark: The Domestic Energy Supply table shows the addition of primary and secondary energy supply data. Thus, the External Dependence table cannot be obtained from the difference between this table and the Primary Energy Production table.

Source: 2012 Brazilian Energy Balance of the Ministry of Mines and Energy

At the end of the 1990s, the Brazilian energy sector faced deep changes, evolving two different fronts: (i) the privatization of state owned electric companies (nuclear generation and power transmission were not included); (ii) the restructuring of the electric sector as a whole (deregulation). The government has decided to focus the role of the state on policy-making and market regulation, phasing out its previous involvement as owner of the major economic agents.

In that context, the Federal Government created two agencies responsible for regulation and inspection of the electricity sector - Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) and the oil and gas sector - Brazilian Agency for Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

As a consequence of the introduction of different private agents owning generation plants in the same river, it was necessary to create an organism that decides how much energy will be generated by each agent. With this responsibility, the private organism called Brazilian System Operator (ONS) was created.

As stated in the first article of law 9,478, the Brazilian energy policy is composed by 11 objectives, shown below.

I - Preserve the national interest.

II - Promote development, expand the labor market and enhance energy resources.

III - Protect the interests of consumers with regard to price, quality and availability of products.

IV - Protect the environment and promote energy conservation.

V - Ensure the supply of petroleum products throughout the national territory, in accordance with the Constitution.

VI - Increase the use of natural gas in economic bases.

VII - Identify the most appropriate solutions for the supply of electricity in different regions of the country.

VIII - Use alternative energy sources, through the economic use of inputs available and applicable technologies.

IX - Promote free competition.

X - Attract investment in energy production.

XI - Increase the country competitiveness in the international market.

According to the studies of the recent 2021 Brazilian Energy Plan, Domestic Energy Supply – the energy required to boost the economy – reaches 440.7 million toe in 2021, corresponding to a 4.9% growth per annum (p.a.) over 2011. This rate surpasses that predicted for the GDP, which corresponds to a 4.7% growth p.a. In fact, for the next decade, especially for the first 5 years, an expressive growth is expected concerning energy intensive sectors such as steel and cement, which are committed to the national market and/or exports. Three important events contribute to the expansion of those sectors: the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2016 Olympic Games and the beginning of Pre-Salt oil exploitation.

Renewable sources continue to increase their participation in the energy matrix, from 44.1% en 2011 to 45% in 2021. Bagasse, ethanol, wind, biodiesel and other renewables increase their participation in detriment of hydro and wood.

Greenhouse gas emissions related to energy usage are expected to reach 641 million tCO2 in 2021, resulting in 1.45 tCO2/toe of energy, which is 39% lower than the global number verified in 2010 (2.38 tCO2/toe). Brazil is very much concerned about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Even though approximately 90% of the country’s electric power is generated by hydro, the country has signed the Kyoto Protocol.

Concerning to the non-renewable sources, oil is losing market share, mainly for natural gas. Coal participation growth refers to steel expansion and electricity generation.

General description

Up to early 1960's, the Brazilian electric utilities had no central co-ordination. Operation and planning activities were limited to independent utility requirements, resulting in isolated or poorly integrated systems. Rapid growth in industrialization led to an inter-regional integration, creating expansion opportunities for the electric companies outside their geographical areas. This integration gave rise to increased supply reliability and provided great benefits due to economy of scale.

In 1962, the federal government established a holding company, ELETROBRAS, with the objectives of organizing, coordinating and planning all activities of the sector at the national level. ELETROBRAS is attached to the Ministry of Mines and Energy. ELETROBRAS is an open corporation with shares negotiated in the domestic and overseas capital markets. At that time, it co-ordinates the whole electricity sector concerning the technical, financial and administrative aspects. ELETROBRAS is the major shareholder of the federal companies and is a minor shareholder in the companies owned by Brazilian states. ELETROBRAS is also the main shareholder of ELETRONUCLEAR, the Brazilian nuclear utility.

A large generation company, ITAIPU Binational, was founded in 1973 by Brazil and Paraguay to manage the ITAIPU hydropower plant of 12,600 MW capacity located at the border of both countries. The majority of the energy produced by ITAIPU is consumed in the Brazilian market and is transmitted from there by two different transmission systems: a direct current (+- 600 kV) and a high voltage one high voltage AC (750 kV).

Institutional reforms and privatizations in the 90’s caused the company to lose some of its functions and to have its profile changed. In this period, the company also started to operate, by legal and transitory order, in the distribution of electric power, through companies in the states of Alagoas, Piauí, Rondônia, Acre, Roraima and Amazonas.

During the 1990’s, the electric sector was deregulated. Many generation and distribution units were privatized, so that a great part of this sector was reformulated. State owned Eletrobras still has the subsidiares: Eletrobras Chesf, Eletrobras Furnas, Eletrobras Eletrosul, Eletrobras Eletronorte, Eletrobras CGTEE and Eletrobras Eletronuclear. Many of these firms have generation units and transmission lines.

In 2004, new regulation of the sector excluded Eletrobras from the National Privatization Program (PND).

The Eletrobras Group also distributes electric energy in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Piauí, Rondônia, Acre, Roraima e Amazonas. Today, the electric distribution in the more industrialized states or those with great population is made by private firms. Finally, the Eletrobras Group owns the greatest research center in electric energy of the southern Hemisphere (Eletrobras Cepel), a strategic participation firm (Eletrobras Eletropar) and half of the capital of the bi-national firm Itaipu.

Presently, nationwide, Eletrobras has installed capacity of 41,621 MW, including 50% of the power of the Itaipu plant belonging to Brazil, and has 56,179 km of transmission lines in operation, in high and extra-high voltage.

The Eletrobras companies operate in an integrated way, with policies and guidelines defined by the High Council of Eletrobras System (Consise), consisting of the presidents of the companies, who meet on a regular basis. Eletrobras supports government strategic programs, such as the program that fosters alternative electric power sources (Proinfa), the National Program for Universal Access To and Use of Electric Power (Luz para Todos) and the National Program for Electric Power Conservation (Procel).

In 2012, companies owned by Brazilian states and private companies, with the companies of Eletrobras Group, were responsible for the electric generation, transportation and distribution in different regions, which satisfied all the Brazilian demand.

The most important of these companies owned by Brazilian states are Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG) in Minas Gerais; Companhia Energética de Săo Paulo (CESP) in Săo Paulo; and Companhia Paranaense de Eletricidade (COPEL) in Paraná.

Today, 80% of these distribution companies, previously owned by Brazilian states are now owned by the private sector due to the privatization program. About 75% of the generating capacity in the country is still government owned.

Hydroelectric power plays a paramount role in the Brazilian electricity system, while thermal power plants (conventional and nuclear) are meager contributors to electricity supply. However, even considering the country's huge hydroelectric potential, one cannot suppose its plain use due to recent environmental restrictions against the construction of new hydro plants, especially those making use of large dams and located in the Amazonian region. In this context, the new energetic long range plan (PNE - 2030) is considering the possibility of using thermal base generation, including domestic sources, such as coal and nuclear. The nuclear power plant ANGRA 3 has been included in the middle range electricity plan and projected to be in operation by 2017.

Deregulation, open electricity market and decision making process

The reform of the Brazilian Electric Sector began in 1993 with the enactment of Law 8.631, which extinguished the equalization of the tariffs that were in effect and created supply contracts between generators and distributors, and which was enhanced by the enactment of Law 9.074, of 1995, that created the Independent Producer of Electric Power and the concept of Free Consumer.

In 1996, the Restructuring Project for the Brazilian Electric Sector was implemented (Project RE-SEB), coordinated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

The paramount conclusions for the project were the need to implement the deverticalization of the electric power companies, that is, to split them up into the generation, transmission and distribution segments, to incentivize competition in the segments of generation and commercialization, and to keep the segments of distribution and transmission of electric power under regulation, considered to be natural monopolies under control of the State.

The need to create a regulating agency was identified (Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency - ANEEL), as well as to create an operator for the national electric system (National Operator of the Electric System - ONS), and an environment to accomplish electric power purchase and resale transactions - the Wholesale Market for Electric Power (MAE).

Concluded in August of 1998, the RE-SEB Project defined the conceptual and institutional frame of the model to be implemented for the Brazilian Electric Sector.

In 2001, the electric system underwent a serious supply crisis which culminated in a electric power rationing plan. This event generated a series of questionings about the course the electric sector was taking. Purporting to adapt the model being implemented, the Committee for the Revitalization of the Electric Sector Model was instituted in 2002, whose work resulted in an agglomerate of change proposals for the Brazilian electric sector.

During 2003 and 2004, the Federal Government set the foundations for a new model for the Brazilian Electric Sector, supported by Laws nos. 10.847 and 10.848, dated March 15, 2004, and by Decree no. 5.163, dated July 30, 2004.

In this sense, the changes introduced by Law 10.848/2004, have the following objectives: promote low tariffs, ensuring security of supply, and create a stable regulatory framework. The main instrument for low tariffs is the auction for procurement of power by distribution, with a lowest rate criterion. Security of supply is based on the following principles: all agents consumption must hire 100% of its load, each power sales contract must have a physical ballast generation, so that there are no contracts without a corresponding physical capacity supply.

The efficient construction of new projects is made possible through the following measures: specific auctions for hiring new ventures for generation of energy; bilateral long-term contracts between the distribution and the winners of auctions, with guaranteed transfer of acquisition costs energy tariffs to final consumers, and preliminary environmental license of hydro candidates.

The creation of a stable regulatory framework requires a clear definition of roles and responsibilities of institutional actors. In particular, the model explains the strategic role of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, as the body representative of the Union, reinforces the functions of regulation, supervision and mediation of the ANEEL, and organizes the planning functions of expansion, operation and marketing.

The Brazilian Power Sector

The New Model establishes a number of measures to be followed by the Agents, such as a requirement for distributors and free consumers to contract for their entire demands; a new methodology to calculate physical coverage of power sale contracts; a way of contracting for hydro and thermal energy so that a better balance between supply cost and safety is assured; a permanent supply safety monitoring structure to detect possible imbalances between supply and demand.

Distributors have to purchase electricity at the regulated contracting environment through least-price auctions, in order to minimize the acquisition costs of electricity to be passed on to the tariffs of captive consumers.

The New Model also includes social insertion initiatives, by promoting the universalization of access and use of electricity to those citizens who do not enjoy this benefit yet, as well as by ensuring subsidies to low income consumers so that they can bear the costs of their power bills. These initiatives are to be funded by the Energy Development Account (CDE).

Electricity generation and consumption

The Brazilian electric system’s main peculiarities are a large extension of transmission lines and a predominantly hydraulics electricity generation system. The consumer market is concentrated in the more industrialized region of the country, the Southeast (53.3%), but the South (17.2%) and the Northeast (16.6%) regions also have some participation. The North region is supplied mainly by small generating plants, the majority being thermoelectric (oil).

Tables 6 and 7 show the more relevant data concerning Brazilian electricity production and installed capacity. Electricity output in 2011 amounted to 532.9 TWh – 80.4% - originated from hydroelectric sources, 9.1 % from fossil fuelled plants and 2.9 % from nuclear plants.

Electricity consumption per capita increased from 1,653 kWh in 2006 to 2,049 kWh in 2011, and the nuclear energy share over the total electricity production increased from 1% to 2.6% during the same period.

During the last decade, residential, rural and commercial electricity consumption has had an expansive increase; however, the industrial segment experienced a much lower growth, mainly due to the use of more efficient technologies and rationalization measures imposed on the use of electricity.

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND INSTALLED CAPACITY

(1) Includes natural gas, oil and coal

(2) Includes firewood, bagasse and charcoal

TABLE 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIO

In 1970, a decision was made to build Brazil's first nuclear power station through an international bid. The contract of a turn-key project for a 626 MW(e) PWR reactor (ANGRA 1) was awarded to Westinghouse Electric Corporation of the United States of America. ANGRA 1 construction started in 1971, and first criticality was achieved ten years later.

In 1975, in an effort to become self-sufficient in nuclear power generation, Brazil signed an agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany to build eight 1,300 MW(e) reactors (PWR Biblis B type) over a period of 15 years. Under this agreement, two of these units (ANGRA 2 and ANGRA 3) were scheduled for construction on the following year, with most of their components imported from Kraftwerk Union's (KWU) shops in Germany. According to this agreement, the rest of the plants were to contain 90% Brazilian-made components. The Brazil-Germany agreement created the Empresas Nucleares Brasileiras (NUCLEBRAS) as the Brazilian stated-owned nuclear holding company. Additionally, several subsidiaries (joint companies) were established to achieve nuclear technology transfer from Germany.

NUCLEBRAS SUBSIDIARIES

The Brazilian nuclear regulatory body is the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), responsible for licensing nuclear power plants and nuclear facilities; performing regulatory activities; and training and organizing personnel, according to Law 4,118 of 1962. In the early 1980's, the Brazilian Navy started a nuclear propulsion program. The Navy's main activity has been the development of uranium enrichment by using the ultracentrifuge process. Success was achieved by the end of the decade, which has continued through the 1990's.

Due to several factors (especially financial problems) the Brazilian-German technology transfer program was forestalled. ANGRA 2 and ANGRA 3 construction was interrupted several times, resulting in further delay in the Brazilian nuclear program. Due to Brazil's foreign debt and high inflation, with added pressures from the privatization program and budget cuts, the Brazilian nuclear program was reorganized at the end of the 1980's.

In 1988, a new company, Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil SA (INB) replaced NUCLEBRAS and its subsidiaries, with limited authority. INB became responsible for rare earths, mining of nuclear minerals, and yellow cake and nuclear fuel production assuming FEC, NUCLEMON and CIPC activities. FEC, renamed as Nuclear Complex of Resende, was transformed in an INB Directorate. Both INB and NUCLEP, responsible for heavy equipment fabrication, became CNEN's subsidiaries. However, both companies, INB and NUCLEP, report directly to the Ministry of Science and Technology and are administratively independent from CNEN. Responsibility for the construction of nuclear power stations was transferred to the state-owned utility, FURNAS/ELETROBRAS, incorporating NUCON activities. NUCLEN was maintained responsible as nuclear power plant architect and engineer.

In 1997, the architect engineering company NUCLEN, merged with the nuclear directorate of FURNAS, a utility responsible for the bulk supply of electricity for most developed region of Brazil. The new company, named ELETRONUCLEAR - ELETROBRAS Termonuclear S/A., is responsible for design, procurement & follow-up of Brazilian and foreign equipment's, management of construction, erection and commissioning of nuclear power plants and is the sole owner and operator of nuclear power plants in the country. Siemens sold its 25% holding in NUCLEN to ELETROBRAS when ELETRONUCLEAR was formed. NUCLEI and NUCLAM were disbanded.

The organizational structure of Brazil's nuclear sector and the relationships among different organizations are shown in Figure 1. The National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), is the regulatory body, which reports to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT). ELETROBRAS, responsible for planning and coordinating all activities of the electrical sector at national level, is under the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The remaining organizations are discussed in the following sections.

FIG. 1. Organization Structure for Nuclear Energy Development in Brazil

Hydroelectric power plays a paramount role in the Brazilian electricity system while thermal power plants (conventional and nuclear) are lower contributors to national electricity supply. The status of the Brazilian NPPs is shown in Table 7.

The ANGRA 1 nuclear power plant located between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, has a net capacity of 626 MW(e). It started commercial operation in December 1984. During the period 1985-1989, the plant experienced two unscheduled outages due to problems on the main condenser and emergency diesel electric generator.

TABLE 7. STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Construction of ANGRA 2 nuclear power plant began in January, 1976, but due to financial problems the construction of the unit was slowed down and was halted several times. The economic recovery of the second half of the 90's led to the acceleration of the unit's construction. This reactor became critical on July 14, 2000. On July 21st, 2000, at 10:16 pm, ANGRA 2 was synchronized for the first time to the Brazilian interconnected electrical grid. ANGRA 2 trial operation (a test phase of continuous operation at a 100% power level) was successfully completed on December, 2000. In February, 2001 Angra 2 started commercial operation. After successive renewals of the authorization of the initial operation, Angra 2 obtained its Permanent Operating License in June, 2011.

The third nuclear station (ANGRA 3), a 1,330 MW(e) PWR reactor, and similar to ANGRA 2, was acquired from Siemens/KWU together with ANGRA 2. ANGRA 3 has about 70 per cent of the design work completed and 70 per cent of the imported major equipment already manufactured and stored on site. The civil works and electro-mechanical assembly activities were postponed in 1991. ELETRONUCLEAR and several independent consulting firms developed technical and economic feasibility studies for ANGRA 3, which were submitted to government authorities. Finally, on July 1^st 2010, the construction of ANGRA 3 was resumed with the first concrete pouring in the Reactor Building. So far 43% of the engineering work has been completed. It is expected that Angra 3 will be connected to the grid in 2016, by which time it will add 1330 MW to the Brazilian electrical output.

ANGRA 1, since December 1984, has operated at full capacity, in several occasions, when it was necessary. In March 1993, the plant experienced problems with some fuel rods. It resumed energy production in December 1994. From 1994 on, the performance of ANGRA 1 followed a more reliable path, reaching its generation record in 1999, 3,976.9 GWh, with an availability factor of 96%. However, due to the restriction to operate at a maximum of 80% capacity, to ensure the safe operation of its Steam Generators, ANGRA 1 had unsatisfactory performance until 2009, when the steam generators were replaced. Since then the plant has operated at a level of excellence, having broken its generation records, consequently, in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

In July, 2002, the National Electric Power Agency approved the new installed capacity value of 1,350 MW for ANGRA 2. ANGRA 1 and ANGRA 2 play an important role in the reliability of the southeast electric system (predominantly of hydro origin), assuring continuous electric power supply to the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, where local water resources are virtually exhausted and power supply depends on long transmission lines. In 2012, ANGRA 1 and ANGRA 2 generated 16,040,790.5 GWh, with load factors of 96.0 and 89.8%, respectively.

The operating experience of ANGRA 1 and 2 is given in Tables 8a and 8b.

TABLE 8.a. OPERATING EXPERIENCE OF ANGRA 1

TABLE 8.b. OPERATING EXPERIENCE OF ANGRA 2

In Brazil, all nuclear R&D activities are developed by government institutions. They are carried out mainly by CNEN's six R&D Institutes, which are under the Ministry of Science and Technology, and by the military institutes, which are under the Ministry of Defense. These ministries are responsible for the establishment of the country nuclear R&D policies and strategies, as well as for the provision of the necessary budget and financing mechanisms to make the corresponding R&D projects feasible.

Five nuclear research centers have been established for carrying out R&D in nuclear sciences, and engineering. Research reactors, accelerators and several R&D laboratories, including pilot plant facilities, were progressively set up in these centers. These research centers belong to the Directorate of Research and Development (DPD) of the CNEN and are listed below:

IPEN (Săo Paulo/SP) - Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research - Research Reactors: 2 (one 5 MW/pool type and one zero power reactor/tank type) - Cyclotron - Radioisotopes Production (^99mTc; ¹³¹I; ¹²³I; ¹⁸F, etc.) - Research on fuel cycle and materials; reactor technology; safety; fundamentals; radiation and radioisotope applications; biotechnology; environmental and waste technology.

IEN (Rio de Janeiro/RJ) - Institute for Nuclear Engineering - Research Reactor: 1 (100 kW, ARGONAUTA) - Cyclotron - Radioisotopes production (¹²³I; ¹⁸F, etc.) - Research on instrumentation, control and man-machine interfaces; chemistry and materials; safety; reactor technology.

CDTN (Belo Horizonte/MG) - Centre for Nuclear Technology Development - Research Reactor: 1 (250 kW, TRIGA) - Research on mining; reactor technology; materials, safety; chemistry; environmental and waste technology.

IRD (Rio de Janeiro/RJ) - Institute for Radiation Protection and Dosimetry - Research on radiation protection and safety; environmental technology; metrology; medical physics.

CRCN (Recife/PE) - Nuclear Sciences Regional Centre - R&D on radiation protection, dosimetry, metrology and reactors technology.

CRCN-CO (Goiânia/GO) - Nuclear Sciences Regional Centre of the Centre-west - R&D on underground water and environmental technology.

Brazil has an on-going project to build a Multipurpose Research Reactor (RMB). With a maximum power of 30 MW and powered by uranium silicite enriched up to 20%, it has a neutron flux of over 2x10¹⁴ neutrons/cm²·s. Upon completion of its conceptual project, the reactor’s site was chosen and environmental impact assessments were already conducted. The basic engineering projects are under way, benefiting from the cooperation with Argentina.

Besides CNEN's institutes, nuclear R&D activities are also performed in military institutes such as the Navy Technological Center, the Air Force Institute of Advanced Studies and the Army Technological Centre and in some universities.

Brazil has actively participated on the Generation IV International Forum since its beginning until the conclusion of the road map. From that point on, the country became a non-active member.

Brazil has been involved in the IAEA INPRO Project, being a member of the Steering Committee and is presently performing two assessment studies based on the INPRO methodology. The country is also taking part on the IRIS (International Reactor Innovative and Secure) program, a consortium aiming at the development of a small-to-medium power (335 MWe) integral type pressurized water reactor. The CNEN's R&D institutes are participating in specific design activities and some matching researches.

Under the sponsorship of IAEA, Brazil has been participating in many technical assistance programs, advisory groups and symposium meetings. As shown in ANNEX, Brazil has several technical co-operation agreements with many countries to exchange information on the various fields of peaceful uses of nuclear energy such as, reactor technology, materials, nuclear applications in industry, health and environment, nuclear safety and radiological protection, computer code development and assessment, training, radioactive waste management and radioactive materials transportation.