Resende Nuclear Fuel Factory
Encyclopedia
The Nuclear Fuel Factory (FCN)22.504°S 44.646°W is located near Resende
, state of Rio de Janeiro, comprising three units, and has a production capacity of 280 tons of uranium
per year. At present, FCN was modernized and produces at the Components and Assembly Unit the fuel rods and fuel elements needed for Brazilian nuclear reactors. The Reconversion and Pellets Production Unit is operating since 1999 with a capacity of 160 tons of UO2 pellets/year. The UO2 reconversion line uses the AUC process. The Nuclear Fuel Factory also produces other fuel element components, such as top and bottom nozzles, spacer grids and end plugs for export demands. Previously, Brazil
supplied the uranium, which is transported to Canada
where it’s converted into hexafluoride gas
, and then to the United Kingdom
for enrichment before it returns to Brazil for fabrication into fuel elements.
The unit has an in-house nuclear safety program and an external one, for environmental monitoring. A nuclear accounting system, internally implemented, required by the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission
(CNEN) and supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continuously performs a balance of the material in processing with a precision reaching tenths of milligrams.
In April 2004 the Brazilian Government denied access for the IAEA inspectors to the uranium enrichment facility being built in Resende. The plant
, scheduled to begin operation in October 2004, remains subject to IAEA inspections aimed at making sure it is not used for producing weapons-grade material. In February and March 2004 Brazil refused to let IAEA inspectors see equipment in the plant, citing a need to protect proprietary information. The IAEA had dispatched inspectors to Resende
who found significant portions of the facility and its contents shielded from view. Walls had been built and coverings are draped over equipment.
By November 2004 the IAEA was able to reach an agreement in principle with the Brazilian government on a safeguards approach to verify the enrichment facilities in Brazil
, at the Resende
facility. This approach would enable the IAEA to do credible inspections but at the same time take care of Brazil's need to protect certain commercial sensitivity inside the facility.
Resende
-Portugal:* Resende Municipality, a municipality in the district of Viseu* Resende , a civil parish in the municipality of Resende* Resende , a civil parish in the municipality of Paredes de Coura...
, state of Rio de Janeiro, comprising three units, and has a production capacity of 280 tons of uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
per year. At present, FCN was modernized and produces at the Components and Assembly Unit the fuel rods and fuel elements needed for Brazilian nuclear reactors. The Reconversion and Pellets Production Unit is operating since 1999 with a capacity of 160 tons of UO2 pellets/year. The UO2 reconversion line uses the AUC process. The Nuclear Fuel Factory also produces other fuel element components, such as top and bottom nozzles, spacer grids and end plugs for export demands. Previously, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
supplied the uranium, which is transported to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where it’s converted into hexafluoride gas
Uranium hexafluoride
Uranium hexafluoride , referred to as "hex" in the nuclear industry, is a compound used in the uranium enrichment process that produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. It forms solid grey crystals at standard temperature and pressure , is highly toxic, reacts violently with water...
, and then to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for enrichment before it returns to Brazil for fabrication into fuel elements.
The unit has an in-house nuclear safety program and an external one, for environmental monitoring. A nuclear accounting system, internally implemented, required by the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission
National Nuclear Energy Commission
The National Nuclear Energy Commission is the Brazilian government agency responsible for the orientation, planning, supervision, and control of Brazil's nuclear program. The agency was created on 10 October 1956...
(CNEN) and supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continuously performs a balance of the material in processing with a precision reaching tenths of milligrams.
IAEA Inspections
By late 2003 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was negotiating with the Brazilian Government to ensure that the new uranium enrichment facility, due to begin operating in 2005, was properly safeguarded.In April 2004 the Brazilian Government denied access for the IAEA inspectors to the uranium enrichment facility being built in Resende. The plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
, scheduled to begin operation in October 2004, remains subject to IAEA inspections aimed at making sure it is not used for producing weapons-grade material. In February and March 2004 Brazil refused to let IAEA inspectors see equipment in the plant, citing a need to protect proprietary information. The IAEA had dispatched inspectors to Resende
Resende
-Portugal:* Resende Municipality, a municipality in the district of Viseu* Resende , a civil parish in the municipality of Resende* Resende , a civil parish in the municipality of Paredes de Coura...
who found significant portions of the facility and its contents shielded from view. Walls had been built and coverings are draped over equipment.
By November 2004 the IAEA was able to reach an agreement in principle with the Brazilian government on a safeguards approach to verify the enrichment facilities in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, at the Resende
Resende
-Portugal:* Resende Municipality, a municipality in the district of Viseu* Resende , a civil parish in the municipality of Resende* Resende , a civil parish in the municipality of Paredes de Coura...
facility. This approach would enable the IAEA to do credible inspections but at the same time take care of Brazil's need to protect certain commercial sensitivity inside the facility.