Brazil's Angra I Nuclear Power Plant to Be Shut Down for Four Months for Maintenance

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--On January 24, Eletronuclear (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) will shut down the 657-megawatt (MW) Angra I nuclear power plant for refueling and maintenance services and to install new steam generators at the station. The company will replace two 328.5-MW Westinghouse steam generators manufactured in the 1980s that now have cracks and corrosion problems. The plant, located on Itaorna Beach in Rio de Janeiro, is expected to be reconnected to the national grid on June 6, 2009. The plant has been operating with a pressurized water reactor since 1985.

The $310 million project will extend the plant's service life by 20 years. The project contract was awarded to Areva SA (EPA:CEI) (Paris), Westinghouse and Nuclebras Equipamentos Pesados S.A. (Nuclep) (Rio de Janeiro). Areva is responsible for the procurement of materials and technical assistance. Areva subcontracted Nuclep to manufacture the steam generators, and Westinghouse is in charge of the installation and assembly of the equipment. The plant owner hired 2,000 people to carry out the project.

Eletronuclear, a subsidiary of Eletrobras (Rio de Janeiro), was established in 1997 to operate and build nuclear power plants in Brazil. Eletronuclear owns the Central Nuclear Almirante Alvaro Alberto nuclear complex, which is formed by Angra I (657 MW) and Angra II (1,350 MW). The company is awaiting an installation permit for Angra III to restart construction on the plant. For more information, view related December 2, 2008, news article - Brazil's Eletronuclear Awaiting Final Installation Permit for 1,350-Megawatt Angra III Nuclear Power Plant.

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