Agência Brasil

Rio - Within 10 years Brazil can become an exporter of enriched uranium. This estimate was made, yesterday (8), by the Minister of Science and Technology, Sérgio Rezende. According to the minister, the country currently possesses the world's sixth large uranium reserves, but a more detailed study could put Brazil in third place.

"If we know how to enrich uranium, which we do, we may eventually even become exporters of enriched uranium," Rezende observed. By the end of this year, he said, the country should obtain a definitive authorization to enrich uranium, for the sole purpose of producing nuclear energy fuel. He pointed out, however, that the possibility of exporting the ore should not be ruled out.

The minister recalled that, in order to sell enriched uranium on the international market, it would be necessary to invest in technology, to raise production, and alter the Constitution, which precludes uranium exports. "A country that possesses the world's sixth, fourth, or third largest uranium reserves has to be capable of exporting this product, because it is a product with high aggregated value and is of strategic importance to the world," Rezende declared.

Regarding the Brazilian Nuclear Program, the minister said that the discussions will be speeded up. "We still don't have a full-fledged program in this area. We have a nuclear program that is under discussion, and the discussion will be accelerated in the coming months, since we have to position ourselves in the world," the minister affirmed.

Rezende informed that the country spends approximately US$ 15 million, annually, to import enriched uranium. "If Brazil has a peaceful nuclear program, it will need more uranium to generate energy on a wider scale, and, eventually, exports may grow, because, have no doubt about it, as oil prices rise, the prices of all energy fuels will increase," Rezende pointed out.

Translation: David Silberstein