Government creates group to study uranium in defense and energy transition
The CNPM (National Council for Mineral Policy) approved this Thursday (2) the creation of a working group to evaluate the role of Brazilian uranium in the Brazilian Nuclear Program, in the Navy Nuclear Program and in strategic defense and energy transition programs.
The measure places the mining of nuclear minerals at the center of the national sovereignty agenda.
The government's objective is to assess how the country's mineral resources, especially uranium, can contribute to energy security, technological advancement and projects considered strategic, such as the nuclear-powered submarine developed by the Navy.
The group will be coordinated by the MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy) and will bring together the Civil House, GSI (Institutional Security Office), MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation), MMA (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change), Navy Command and CPRM (Mineral Resources Research Company), also called SGB (Brazilian Geological Service).
The Ministry of Defense, ANM (National Mining Agency), ANSN (National Nuclear Security Authority), Eletronuclear, EPE (Energy Research Company) and Nuclear Industries of Brazil will also participate as permanent guests.
According to the government, the idea is to bring together bodies responsible for geological research, mineral regulation, environmental licensing, national security, energy planning and operation of the nuclear sector at the same table. In practice, the collegiate tries to integrate a chain that goes from knowledge of mineral reserves to the use of uranium in energy and defense programs.
"Brazil meets all the conditions to occupy a prominent position in the global nuclear sector chain, always with peaceful purposes and in respect for the Constitution. The Government of Brazil works to transform our mineral reserves into technological development, energy security and strengthening national sovereignty", stated the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira.
Among the group's responsibilities are evaluating the current stage of mapping and knowledge about nuclear mineral resources and reserves in the country, with a focus on uranium, and proposing strategies to expand this information base.
The board must also assess the mineral's production potential, considering projects in operation, projects being implemented and expansion scenarios. Another objective will be to identify the needs of nuclear, national defense and energy transition programs that could be met with revenues and financial compensation arising from the exploration of these ores.
The resolution reinforces that nuclear activity in Brazil has an exclusively peaceful purpose, in line with the Federal Constitution and the international commitments assumed by the country.
At the end of the work, the group must present recommendations, studies and, if applicable, drafts of normative acts or legislative proposals to enable the allocation of resources from the nuclear mineral sector to strategic defense and energy programs.
The board will last 90 days, counting from the publication of the act of appointment of its members. The deadline may be extended upon justification by the coordinator. The final report will be submitted to the CNPM.
Brazil is among the countries with the largest known uranium reserves and dominates strategic stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, a capacity restricted to a limited number of nations.
The discussion takes place at a time of resumption of the debate on nuclear energy in Brazil and around the world. The source has once again gained space in discussions about energy security as it is capable of generating electricity continuously, with low carbon emissions and without depending on weather conditions, unlike sources such as wind and solar.
This debate also began to be driven by the expansion of data centers, structures that consume large volumes of energy on an uninterrupted basis. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, large technology companies have sought firm, low-emission sources to sustain the growing demand for electricity, which has put nuclear energy back on the radar of governments and investors.
In Brazil, the topic also has a direct connection with defense. The Navy conducts the Navy Nuclear Program, which includes the development of the nuclear-powered submarine, considered one of the strategic projects of the Armed Forces. Members of the Navy have already publicly defended the importance of the program to expand deterrence capacity and protect the country's strategic maritime areas, such as the so-called Blue Amazon.
Source: CNN