MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil will produce enriched uranium in 2004

Brazil's Science and Technology Minister Roberto Amaral confirmed the country's determination to begin producing enriched uranium next year.

The main purpose of the 40 million US dollar project is to ensure and cheapen supply of enriched uranium to the country's two nuclear energy producing plants that are located close to Rio do Janeiro.

The project is a joint enterprise between the Brazilian Navy and the government managed Nuclear Industries of Brazil.

"Our target is to make Brazil self sufficient by 2012 and a net exporter of enriched uranium in 2014", Mr. Amaral told reporters in Rio do Janerio.

Mr. Amaral also revealed that the government anticipates protests from environmentalist groups who are against Brazil's nuclear energy plants policy.

Brazil supplies all the necessary uranium which is then transported to Canada where it's converted into hexafluoride gas and later to United Kingdom for enrichment before it finally returns to the country.

Brazil's nuclear plants consume between 20 and 30 million US dollars annually.

According to international mineral statistics Brazil figures sixth among countries with greatest natural uranium supplies equivalent to 310,000 proven tons. However, only a third of the country's vast territory has been surveyed for uranium.