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Russia/ Brazil
For immediate release
RUSSIA MAY BECOME INVOLVED INTO BRAZILIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM
- EXPORT CREDITS FOR ANGRA 3 COMPLETION AND ANGRA 1, 2 MODERNIZATION PROMISED
Moscow, March 13, 2002 - An environmental group Ecodefense! made a statement
in Moscow today protesting planned involvement of Russian nuclear industry
into Brazilian nuclear development. According to the statement, there
is possibility that Russian government proposes the export credit to Brazil
in exchange for the new nuclear contracts.
On December 13, 2001, Russian prime-minister Mikhail Kasyanov visited
Brazil to discuss economic cooperation programs. Russian governmental
delegation included representatives of various industries including nuclear.
Deputy minister of atomic power Lev Ryabev joined Russian delegation to
negotiate with Brazilian government on possible participation of Russian
nuclear industry in the projects of Angra 3 completion and Angra 1,2 modernization.
Russian economic weekly "Vedomosti" reported on December 14:
"Russia is ready to take part in modernizing 600 MWt and 1300 MWt
reactors at the Angra nuclear plant, also building new reactor".
Russian ministry of atomic power (Minatom) never participated in the upgrading
of western-designed reactors. But it happened several times that western
industry was upgrading Soviet-designed nuclear reactors such as in Temelin,
Czech republic, where Westinghouse spent $ 500 mln over budget to complete
the work.
According to various media reports, Brazilian government spent nearly
$ 1,3 bln for Angra 3 construction and estimates costs of completion at
$ 1,7 bln additionally. This estimate could be realistic in case French
and German industry continue to build the reactor. But involvement of
Russian Minatom would increase the costs up to 50% additionally (at the
lowest estimate) thanks to differences in technological designs of Russian
and Western nuclear industries.
As we learned from the source within Russian government delegation that
visited Brazil, possibility of Russian export credit appears when/if Brazil
would offer a contract for Angra completion or modernization to Minatom.
Based on previous practice of export credit activities we can predict
that environmental assessment for its export credit will not be necessary.
Procedures of returning the export credit will start not earlier than
5-10 years after Angra 3 will be connected to the grid. Credit would be
offered for maximum of 7% a year, it would probably be allowed that credit
returns with goods and clothes, not direct payments.
Speaking specifically on possibility of Angra 1, 2 modernization it is
expected that Siemens, Framatome and Minatom would join forces for this
project. Minatom would not be able to implement such a project alone because
it is not familiar with technology/design of Angra-1, 2.
By Vladimir Slivyak
For more information contact:
ECODEFENSE! Russia
Phone/fax +7(095)2784642, 7766281, 7766546
e-mail: ecodefense@online.ru
http://www.ecoline.ru/antinuclear
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