Brazil should dominate nuclear cycle this year

Brazil is expected to achieve control of the complete nuclear fuel production cycle (which is also called the uranium fuel production cycle) on an industrial scale sometime this year. Brazil is also building a nuclear submarine that is to be operational about 2020.

According to Alberto Montoya, professor of international relations at the Superior School of Advertising and Marketing (“ESPM”) in Rio, Brazil’s nuclear projects have economical, political, military and geopolitical consequences. Among other things, they will have influence on the way Brazil’s intentions to obtain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council are taken into account by other powers.

“The Security Council seat depends on having military capacity and the ability to project it on an international scale. Having a seat without being able to act is of little relevance,” says Montoya. But nuclear capabilities will bring with it new responsibilities, he adds.

“If a Third World country dominates all the processing steps in the uranium cycle it will be seen with some suspicion by superpowers who will perceive a new geo-strategic factor that reduces their power,” explains the professor.

He adds that a nuclear submarine will be fundamental in ensuring sovereignty over maritime resources. For example, says Montoya, Brazil has a strategic plan known as “Blue Amazon,” which consists of projecting a military presence into a huge area of coastal waters, some 900,000 square kilometers, where, among other things, the subsalt petroleum fields are located.  “Of course, one submarine will not be able to guarantee control over such a large area, but it will have an important symbolic presence”

Montaya is emphatic in saying that the important thing at this moment is to continue with these programs. “The next administration has to understand that these nuclear projects are State policy, with medium- and long-term importance in Brazil’s role on the international stage. Whoever the next president is, he or she must not halt these programs as the cost will be greater in the future.”