Greenpeace to fight new Brazilian nuclear plant

subscribe

Greenpeace said it has asked courts to block construction of a third nuclear power plant in energy-hungry Brazil.

The environmental group said it is seeking a restraining order from a federal court in Angra dos Reis, a coastal resort south of Rio de Janeiro and the site of Brazil's only two nuclear power plants. Another action was filed in the nation's capital, Brasilia, Greenpeace press spokeswoman Gabriela Michelotti said. Public prosecutor Andre de Vasconcelos Dias in Angra dos Reis was traveling and not available for comment, his office said. The existing nuclear plants, Angra 1 and Angra 2, have a combined installed capacity of about 2,000 megawatts. Angra 3 would raise capacity to 3,300 megawatts at a cost of about US$3.6 billion, according to the Mines and Energy Ministry. In August, the government moved to restart work on Angra 3, which has been stalled since the 1980s by lack of funds. The government said this year it could build an additional four to eight nuclear power plants after Angra 3. Greenpeace issued a statement that it's court filings name the federal government, the Eletronuclear power company, the Ibama environmental protection agency and the Rio de Janeiro State Environmental Engineering Federation, or Feema, claiming that the construction of Angra 3 is "illegal and unconstitutional." Greenpeace said the plant lacks the express authorization of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the approval of Congress.

The Associated Press telephoned Eletronuclear and Ibama but was told that no one was available to comment. A call to Feema went unanswered.

Brazil needs energy to fuel its expanding economy. In July, Ibama gave preliminary approval to a US$10 billion to US$14.7 billion project to build two dams in the Amazon that would generate 6,450 megawatts, or 8 percent of current electricity demand. Critics of nuclear energy say Brazil should use more solar, wind and biomass energy.

Related News

Greta Thunberg

Opinion: Germany's drive for renewable energy is a cautionary tale

CALGARY - News that Greta Thunberg is visiting Alberta should be welcomed by all Canadians.

The teenaged Swedish environmentalist has focused global attention on the climate change debate like never before. So as she tours our province, what better time for a reality check than to look at a country that is furthest ahead in already adapting steps that Greta is advocating.

That country is Germany. And it’s not a pretty sight.

Germany embraced the rush to renewables before anyone else, and did so with gusto. The result?

Germany’s largest newsmagazine Der Spiegel published an article on May 3 of this year entitled “A…

READ MORE
turkey in the oven

Christmas electricity spike equivalent to roasting 1.5 million turkeys: BC Hydro

READ MORE

pacific-northwests-renewable-energy-goals-hindered-by-grid-limitations

Pacific Northwest's Renewable Energy Goals Hindered

READ MORE

power lines

National Grid warns of short supply of electricity over next few days

READ MORE

doug-ford-new-stance-on-wind-power-in-ontario

Doug Ford's New Stance on Wind Power in Ontario

READ MORE