Eletronuclear opens public consultation on the Angra 3 project

Eletrobras began the public consultation process to complete the works on the Angra 3 nuclear plant, in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. The drafts of the bidding notice to contract the engineering, purchasing and construction management services (called EPC) for the project are on the Eletrobras website.

These documents were prepared by the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), which was hired by the company to carry out the technical, financial and legal modeling of the project.

Angra 3 has been under construction for almost 40 years. Opened in the 1980s, only 65% ​​of its works have been completed so far. Over the course of four decades, the reasons for delays include budget problems, tenders and investigations into Operation Lava Jato.

The plant is expected to be ready in 2030. So far, around R$8 billion has been spent on Angra 3. To be ready, it is estimated that another R$20 billion will be needed.

The public consultation is the stage prior to the launch of the bidding notice. The project’s other modeling studies are still under review by BNDES and Eletronuclear.

“After completion, the studies will be forwarded to the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) in order to support the calculation of the energy price to be adopted in the new Angra 3 energy commercialization contract,” said the BNDES in a note.

The bidding will have international scope. The selected company or consortium will complete the works on the plant, and then transfer the operation to Eletronuclear.

According to the bank, the institutions are working to incorporate the proposed notes made by the technical unit of the Federal Audit Court (TCU), which carried out a preliminary assessment throughout 2023.

In December, the technical area of ​​the Federal Audit Court (TCU) found that the works on the so-called “Critical Line” are at a “very reduced pace”, with possible impacts on the project’s completion schedule.