Countries embarking on nuclear energy programmes for the first time or expanding their programmes after a long period without construction face integrated challenges, representatives from emerging and expanding nuclear countries have said. These challenges include the development of human resources as well as financial and political considerations.

Kazakhstan's JSC National Atomic Company Kazatomprom announced today it had signed a commercial agreement to supply natural uranium to Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB). Kazatomprom said it had won INB's tender to supply natural uranium hexafluoride for the needs of the Brazilian nuclear power industry.

Brazil's national energy plan to 2050 will consider new nuclear power plants including generation IV technology and small modular reactors to meet growing national electricity demand, Minister for Mines and Energy Bento Albuquerque said yesterday.

Ongoing excellent nuclear performance throughout long operating lives is contributing to meeting global energy and climate goals, World Nuclear Association Director General Agneta Rising told the World Nuclear Spotlight Brazil conference in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. During the event, Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Albuquerque said the country was committed to resuming the Angra 3 project.

Brazil's uranium enrichment capacity has increased by 25% following the inauguration of the seventh cascade of centrifuges at the Resende enrichment plant, Industrias Nucleares do Brasil has announced.

French utility EDF has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian companies Eletrobras and Eletronuclear to promote cooperation in nuclear energy. This could include participation in the completion of Angra 3 and possible follow-up projects.

A team of International Atomic Energy Agency experts has completed a Pre-SALTO (Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation) review at Brazil's Angra 1 nuclear power plant. Plant operator Eletrobras Eletronuclear is preparing to apply to extend the pressurised water reactor's operating lifetime from 40 to 60 years.

JSC Isotope is to supply isotope products to Brazil under a five-year agreement signed with the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN). According to the agreement, which is in addition to Russia's current weekly supplies to Brazil of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) and iodine-131, JSC Isotope will supply lutetium-177, yttrium-90, cobalt-57, and sources of ionizing radiation based on iridium-192 and germanium-68/gallium-68 generators.

Russia's Rosatom has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian companies Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras (Eletrobras) and Eletrobras Termonuclear SA (Eletronuclear) to promote cooperation in nuclear power. It includes the possible construction of a new nuclear power plant in Brazil, Rosatom said.

A memorandum of understanding to further promote cooperation in nuclear energy has been signed between China National Nuclear Corporation and Brazilian power company Eletrobras and its nuclear subsidiary Eletronuclear. The agreement covers the completion of Angra unit 3 and possible follow-up projects.

Industrias Nucleares do Brasil has started work on its Engenho mine in Brazil's Bahia state. The company said the move was a "decisive step" towards resumption of domestic uranium production.

United Innovation Corporation, a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian consultancy CK3 for the development, construction and operation of an irradiation centre in Brazil. The document was signed by the director-generals of the two companies, respectively, Denis Cherednichenko and Renato Cherkezian.