Brazilian nuclear policy
What exists, what is missing — and the paradox of the largest country in the Southern Hemisphere with active tokamaks.
- Angra I/II/III — Angra dos Reis (RJ) • Eletronuclear
- IEN — Rio de Janeiro • CNEN
- CDTN — Belo Horizonte • UFMG/CNEN
- IPEN — São Paulo • USP/CNEN
- INB Caetité — Bahia • mineração de urânio
- INB Resende — RJ • conversão e combustível
- CTMSP — Iperó (SP) • Marinha do Brasil
What is Brazil's nuclear policy?
It is the set of laws, institutions and programmes that define how Brazil researches, produces and uses nuclear technology — from uranium mining to power generation, from medicine to submarine propulsion. It is one of the most comprehensive nuclear policies in Latin America, but it faces serious challenges of funding and continuity.
Who takes part?
Source: SBPC; BIFUSP/USP, 2023.
How does it work?
- 1Guidelines
The federal government and Congress set nuclear policy and budget.
- 2Regulation
CNEN sets the standards, oversees compliance and grants operating licences.
- 3Fuel
INB mines uranium and manufactures Brazil's nuclear fuel.
- 4Operation
Eletronuclear runs the power plants; universities run the research tokamaks.
- 5Applications
Electricity, medicine, industry, agriculture, research and defence.
Simplified flow — each stage involves several institutions and ministries.
Where does it have an impact?
Angra 1 and 2 generate about 3% of Brazil's electricity and more than 30% of Rio de Janeiro's electricity.
Radiopharmaceuticals produced by IPEN support millions of diagnostic exams and cancer treatments each year.
Three tokamaks (USP, INPE, UFES) and research reactors keep Brazil on the world plasma-science map.
Nuclear irradiation techniques improve seeds, control pests and extend food preservation.
Non-destructive testing, density gauges and radioactive tracers optimise industrial processes.
Naval nuclear propulsion — Brazil is one of the few countries that masters the full uranium cycle for peaceful military use.
What is still missing
Brazil has no stable public policy for nuclear fusion. Research depends almost entirely on CNPq, FAPESP and CAPES — all subject to budget cuts. There are not even consolidated figures on the total amount invested in fusion in the country.
Source: BARROS, M. defesaemfoco.com.br, 2021.
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