NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN BRAZIL'S NUCLEAR RESEARCH PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R000600330001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 11, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

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Central intelligence Agency
11 April 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR: Roseanne Bartholomew
Division of Intelligence
Office of International Security Affairs
Department of Energy
Chief,. International Issues Division
Office of Global Issues
33
New Developments in Brazil's Nuclear Research
Program
1. Per your request, the attached memorandum discusses the
recent policy decisions by the Brazilian Government affecting
nuclear research, including approval for construction of. Brazil's
first nuclear research reactor outside of interna-tional
safeguards. controls.
2. This memorandum was prepared by
International Security Issues Division, O ice o Global
Issues.
3. Conments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to
the Chief, Weapons Proliferation Branch, OGI,
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Attachment:
New Developments in Brazil's Nuclear Research
Program
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Central Intelligence Agency
11 April 1983
New Developments in Brazil's Nuclear Research Program
Surrmary
A reordering of Brazil's nuclear research priorities appears
to be in progress following the.recent consolidation of nuclear
activities under the control of the National Security Council.
Budget allocations for 1983 indicate that increase in-priority is
being given to a hitherto small unsafeguarded nuclear research
program at the same time that the budget for the ambitious and
costly civil nuclear power program has been cut almost in half.
Under the research program, construction of an unsafeguarded
heavy water research reactor reportedly has been appoved. The
research reactor employs a design that is estimated to produce
enough spent fuel.to reprocess three to four kilograms of
plutonium annually. This move is the first indication that the
Brazilian Government may try to build sensitive pilot scale
nuclear fuel cycle facilities outside of international safeguards
.controls. We believe Argentina's efforts to complete an unsafe-
guarded nuclear fuel cycle may be a motivating factor in the
strengthened Brazilian nuclear research program.
This memorandum was prepared byl International
Security Issues Division, Office of Global Issues. This analysis
is based on information as of 20 March 1983. Comments and
queries are welcome and may be addressed to Chief, Weapons
Proliferation Branch, OGI,
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New Research Directions
Two recent. policy decisions, a shift in-funding priorities
and approval for construction of a new nuclear research facility,
appear to be placing. Brazil on the road to acquiring unsafeguarded
plutonium.
New Budget Priorities. Recent sweeping economic austerity
measures taken by Brazil to meet its acute balance of payments
obligations and to conform to International Monetary Fund
guidelines resulted in sizeable budget cutbacks in the civil
nuclear power program. The operating budget in 1983 for civilian
nuclear energy decreasgd substantially, according to government
press announcements. Construction work on two West German
supplied power rectors has been delayed, and expansion plans
under the large 1975 West German-Brazilian power program have
been indefinitely postponed.* At the same time, however, funding
for nuclear fuel cycle research was doubled for 1983, according
to press reports. Because this funding represents a much smaller
'share of the total budget than the civil power program, the
nuclear referent of the Brazilian Intelligence Service told a.US
Embassy official that fuel cycle research is-unlikely to be
affected by future budget cutbacks. (S)
Approval for Unsafeguarded Reactor. Beyond the 1983 budget
announcement, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry's spokesman publicly
affirmed Brazil's right to develop an indigenous nuclear program
for peaceful purposes, and the Minister of Mines a'nd Energy
stated that Brazil plans to produce plutonium "but not for
military purposes". Following these announcements, the Brazilian
Government approved budgetary plans to construct a new unsafe-
Lruarded nuclear research reactor.
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SUBJECT: New Developments in Brazil's Nucler Research
Program (U)
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1 - D/OGI,'DD/S/OGI
1 - Ch/ISID/OGI
1 - Ch/WP/ISID/OGI
8 - OGI/PS
DDI/OGI/ISID/Wj I(11 Apr 1983)
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/05: CIA-RDP85T00287R000600330001-1