Brazilian Nuclear Power : The Thorium Option

The document appears to be a memorandum from November 9, 1977, discussing Brazilian interest in using high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology with thorium for nuclear power. The Brazilian government, including President Geisel and his potential successor, General Figueiredo, may be open to a joint effort with the US and West Germany in this field. The technology is attractive to Brazilian officials and scientists due to its potential for breeder applications without producing plutonium, which could render current pressurized water reactors (PWRs) provided by West Germany obsolete.

One of the main challenges for Brazil's nuclear power development is the limited domestic uranium resources, with only 26,000 tons of reserves found so far. In contrast, thorium reserves are extensive, estimated to be between 200,000 and 350,000 tons. By adopting HTGR technology, Brazil could mix fertile thorium 232 with enriched uranium fuel, resulting in spent fuel containing fissionable uranium 233 instead of plutonium. This uranium 233 could be reprocessed and used for mixed oxide fuel, effectively expanding Brazil's nuclear fuel resources without relying on plutonium.

The document suggests that a decision to apply thorium HTGR technology in Brazil could be made as early as the following year for the next two reactors in the program, specifically for the Sao Paulo Electric Company.