Brazil readies first uranium export to Argentina

Brazil is preparing to export its first shipment of enriched uranium, the head of state-run company Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB) said on Monday.

Four tons of the fuel will be sold to Argentina's state nuclear fuel company Conuar, INB president João Carlos Tupinambá said during an event in Rio.

According to Tupinambá, a 15-day contract signed by INB and Conuar is awaiting approval from Brazil's foreign affairs ministry.

The uranium has been earmarked for use by Argentina's Carem test reactor in Buenos Aires province.

"We are seeking a more effective partnership with Argentina," Tupinambá was quoted as saying by the Globo newspaper.

"We are in negotiations to supply the Carem reactor and also analyze possibilities for the Atucha 1 plant," he added.

Brazil currently generates nuclear power from two plants, Angra 1 (657MW) and Angra 2 (1.35GW), which are operated by Eletronuclear, a subsidiary of state-run utility Eletrobras.

Work on third plant – Angra 3 (1.405GW) – was halted last September amid allegations engineering firms formed a cartel to fix contracts for the project.

Argentina has three nuclear plants in operation: Central Nuclear Atucha I (362MW), Central Nuclear Atucha II (745MW) and Central Nuclear Embalse (648MW).