Nuclear fusion in Brazil
The only country in the Southern Hemisphere with active tokamaks.
Nuclear fusion research in Brazil began formally in 1974, with groups created simultaneously at USP, UFRGS and UNICAMP — driven by the 1973 oil crisis.
The most symbolic milestone was the TBR-1: the first tokamak built in Brazil, 100% nationally made, with components sourced from the São Paulo electronics market and assembled by hand at USP. It achieved its first plasma at 7 million degrees Celsius.
Source: PESTANA, A. ITER: os caminhos da energia de fusão no Brasil. FUNAG.
Brazil's three tokamaks
TCABR — USP Institute of Physics (São Paulo)
The largest tokamak in Brazil and in the Southern Hemisphere. Currently being upgraded with innovative magnetic coils — it is expected to become the first machine of the future National Nuclear Fusion Laboratory (LFN), to be built in Iperó (SP).
Source: SBPC, Jul. 2023; O Cafezinho, May 2026.
ETE — INPE (São José dos Campos)
Spherical tokamak, a national project started in 1995. First plasma in 2000.
NOVA — UFES (Vitória, ES)
Donated by the Japanese government, operates at the UFES Thermal Plasma Laboratory.
Source: UFES, ufes.br.
The biggest challenge: lack of consistent funding and continuity of public policy — so much so that there are no consolidated figures on the total amount invested in fusion in the country.
Source: BARROS, M. A fusão nuclear no Brasil. defesaemfoco.com.br, 2021.