Aspectos econômicos do aproveitamento industrial da energia atômica

Abstract

The study analyzes the technical and economic prospects of generating electricity from nuclear energy and its potential application to Brazil’s development. The work presents the fundamentals of nuclear thermoelectric power generation, examines reactor types and construction and operating costs, using British experience as its main reference, and concludes that, at the time, nuclear energy still involved higher costs than conventional coal-fired thermal generation. For Brazil, however, the author identifies strategic potential, particularly in view of the availability of raw materials such as thorium, the need to expand energy supply, and the possibility of locating power plants close to major consumer markets, initially serving as a complement to hydroelectric power. The adoption of the technology would nevertheless depend on overcoming economic, institutional, and cultural obstacles, as well as on training specialized personnel and developing national technological capabilities; therefore, the study recommends the gradual introduction of nuclear energy, with investments in the training of engineers, research, and the experimental construction of reactors.