Brazil's nuclear regulator (National Nuclear Energy Commission, CNEN) has allowed Eletronuclear to operate the 640 MW Angra 1 nuclear power unit located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro until 2044, extending the reactor's operating life to 60 years. The request for the life extension was submitted in 2019. The nuclear power plant will undergo upgrades to control systems, physical protection structures and radioactive waste management protocols, which will be implemented during maintenance and refuelling shutdowns, for an estimated investment of about BRL3.2bn (US$550m) for the 2023-2027 period.
Angra 1 reached criticality in 1982 and entered commercial operation in 1985. The Westinghouse pressurised water reactor has a design capacity of 640 MWe. Eletronuclear also operates Angra 2, a 1,275 MWe PWR which began commercial operation in 2001.
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