As Brazil ramps up efforts to modernize its energy infrastructure and decarbonize remote regions, the government plans to launch construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) in collaboration with Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom.
The initiative, confirmed by Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira, signals a strategic pivot toward nuclear innovation as a replacement for fuel oil-based thermal power in the Amazon.
The decision comes on the heels of a May 9 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Moscow, where the two leaders reaffirmed their countries’ long-standing cooperation on nuclear energy and mineral development. Lula emphasized that SMRs—compact nuclear reactors designed for scalability and deployment in hard-to-access regions—could play a pivotal role in stabilizing Brazil’s grid and reducing dependency on fossil fuel imports.
While SMRs are still a nascent technology globally, the proposed partnership with Rosatom would position Brazil as one of the first countries in Latin America to integrate them into national energy strategy. Silveira noted that Rosatom has been instructed by the Kremlin to initiate talks with Brazilian authorities to advance engineering, site selection, and regulatory planning. Although no specific project locations have been named, early indicators suggest deployments are being considered in energy-insecure areas of the Amazon basin, where grid access remains limited and diesel generation is still prevalent.
Replacing these thermal power plants with SMRs aligns with broader environmental objectives. According to Brazil’s Energy Research Office (EPE), over 200 isolated systems—mostly in the North region—are dependent on fossil fuels, accounting for a disproportionate share of emissions relative to their output. Small modular reactors could offer a low-carbon alternative, delivering continuous baseload power with a smaller land and water footprint compared to large hydro or traditional nuclear installations.
The technology’s appeal lies in its modular design, which allows for off-site manufacturing and rapid deployment in areas with logistical constraints. Rosatom has been actively promoting its RITM series of SMRs, which have been used in Russian Arctic floating power stations and are now being marketed for international use. Whether this same reactor model—or a new configuration tailored for Brazil—will be deployed remains to be confirmed.
Beyond SMRs, Silveira also confirmed Rosatom’s readiness to assist in completing Brazil’s long-stalled Angra 3 nuclear power plant in Rio de Janeiro state. Construction of Angra 3 began in the 1980s but was repeatedly delayed due to regulatory, technical, and financial hurdles. The Brazilian government now sees the reactor’s completion as integral to meeting national baseload demand while transitioning away from volatile hydro output, which has become increasingly susceptible to drought conditions exacerbated by climate change.
Nuclear energy currently supplies less than 3% of Brazil’s electricity, with the country relying primarily on hydropower, followed by wind, gas, and biomass. However, rising energy demand and a need for dispatchable low-carbon energy sources are prompting a renewed interest in nuclear options. The strategic dialogue with Russia also includes discussions on cooperation in critical mineral exploration—an area of increasing geopolitical importance given Brazil’s reserves of uranium, niobium, and rare earth elements.
While Rosatom has already established a foothold in multiple international markets—including Egypt, Turkey, and India—the Brazilian partnership marks a notable entry into South America. It also reflects Brazil’s pragmatic approach to energy diplomacy, balancing strong ties with Western partners and its interest in diversifying technological and investment sources in the clean energy transition.
Regulatory and financing frameworks will be critical next steps for the SMR initiative. Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) is expected to play a central role in overseeing licensing procedures, while financing models—whether through bilateral agreements, public-private partnerships, or export credit mechanisms—are yet to be disclosed.
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