Speaking in an online interview with magazine Interesse Nacional, Mr Albuquerque also said the government will soon announce an executive decree to minimise the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the energy sector.
In June it was reported that Brazil had approved a business model to complete Angra-3 with or without a partner joining Eletronuclear, the Eletrobras subsidiary that operates the country’s nuclear reactors.
Eletronuclear president Leonam Guimaraes said earlier this year that Brazil wanted to find a partner by 2023 to help finish and operate Angra-3, with companies in China, Russia, France and South Korea among possible candidates. He said lower demand for electricity and a fall in the value of the Brazilian real during the coronavirus crisis could push completion of Angra-3 into 2027,
Construction of Angra-3, a 1,245-MW Siemens/KWU pressurised water reactor unit, began in 1984 but was halted in 1986 because of a lack of financing. In 2010, a construction permit was reissued by the authorities, but the project was suspended again in 2015 because of financing concerns and corruption investigation proceedings.
According to Eletrobras Eletronuclear, almost 47% of civil work at the site had been completed in 2014. So far, 9 billion reals ($1.6 bn) has been spent on the project, Reuters reported recently.
Brazil has two operational nuclear plants, Angra-1 and Angra-2, which provide around 2.7% of its electricity production.