Thorium instead of Uranium?

Brazilian nuclear scientists are considering investing in research for substituting enriched Uranium in its power plants in Angra. The Center for Mineral Technology (CETEM / MCT) held on December 9 the Mini Forum Iberoeka Torio for scientists and business men from Brazil and Latin America. The use of thorium for energy isn't new even for the young Brazilian nuclear energy program (see reference IAEA) but it is still very hard to evaluate the amount if the mineral available for extraction.

Brazillian weather super-computer

INPE (National Institute for Space Research) has developed a computer (Tupã is its name) that has been considered to be among the most powerful in the World. With 258 trillion calculations per second, Tupã is now the third most powerful supercomputer dedicated to operational numerical prediction of weather and climate seasonality.

This XT6, from the company Cray, will improve accuracy and help with the Brazilian Model for Global Climate System that should help evaluate the effects of anthropogenic activities (eg, emissions of greenhouse gases, changes in vegetation, urbanization, etc.) on Natural Systems, extremely important for countries in development.

40 billion for Brazilian nuclear energy program

Brazil will try to reignite its nuclear energy program with an investment of R$40 billion (around US$20 billion) over the course of one year. There are today three power-plants in operation and the self sufficiency in enrichment of Uranium will receive a make over with the new program. Liliane Rank completed, in November 2009, the final report of this first phase of development, the "Study of the Supply Chain of the Brazilian Nuclear Program: background and prospects of the sector of nuclear power generation in Brazil" sees future growth in demand.

Will Brazil supply Uranium to Iran? Recently there was a global discussion whether Brazil should provide enriched Uranium to the controversial need for nuclear power of Iran in the Middle-East. There is no sign of advances in this subject since Iran is already enriching it themselves and so I don't think the new Brazilian program considers this issue at this point. I will provide updates on this in the future.

Germany recently in Brazil

Two things have happened recently between Germany and Brazil: The event "The year of Germany in Brazil" organised by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) in partnership with Leopoldina - German National Academy of Sciences - and the visit of an IT delegation made to discuss the current scientific exchange and educational differences between these countries.

11 million dollars in search for European partnership

Brazil is investing U$11 million for creating partnerships between research institutions of this country and EU. The objective is to create an infrastructure for research and development of laboratories and to gather human resources for a better effective use of advanced technologies, with efficiency and international competitiveness. People and companies interested should submit the projects until the 8th of February 2011 and the maximum period for the execution of such project is 30 months. Take a look at the CNPq website http://www.cnpq.br/editais/ct/2010/066.htm