• Brazil’s microreactor project tests fuel rods, aiming for 5 MWt prototype. • 13 partners, including INB, Diamante, Terminus, collaborate on design and testing. • Tests began January; qualification will validate manufacturing processes by 2027. • Prototype to fit 40‑ft container, operate remotely for 10+ years, no refueling. • CNEN aims to secure regulatory approvals and demonstrate core cooling via heat pipes. • Project spans 2025‑2028, with prototype construction scheduled for 2027.

Article Summaries:

  • Brazil’s 5 MWt microreactor project, a public‑private partnership worth BRL 50 million (US$9.1 million), is advancing to the fuel‑rod testing phase. The three‑year program, launched in 2025 and involving 13 partners, aims to build a prototype at CNEN’s Nuclear Engineering Institute in Rio de Janeiro. Fuel rods began testing in January; once completed, production processes will be qualified for 2027 manufacturing. The prototype will demonstrate a 3-5 MW microreactor that fits in a 40‑foot container, operates remotely for over a decade without refuelling, and could supply power to remote communities and facilities. The project also seeks initial regulatory approvals and highlights the role of INB as Brazil’s sole licensed nuclear fuel manufacturer.

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