At a time when nuclear technology is expanding globally in various areas – health, environment, agriculture, industry, culture, and energy generation – the Brazilian nuclear sector faces critical challenges. The country’s ability to meet these demands is questioned, especially in the areas of research, development, and innovation (R&D&I), regulatory control, and the supply of products and services. This responsibility mainly falls on public institutions, with the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) being predominant.
While the necessary National Nuclear Safety Authority (ANSN) has not yet been implemented, CNEN is the regulatory agency and has shown competence, efficiency, and transparency in responding to radiological emergencies, such as the one recently occurred in São Paulo.
The image shows three different containers, all with radioactive material warning labels. On the left, there is a blue bucket with a lid, in the center, a metal container with a handle, and on the right, a white bucket with a lid. All containers are on a grated surface.
On that occasion, CNEN’s swift action ensured the recovery of the misplaced radioactive material and the implementation of necessary measures to protect the population and the environment. However, this efficiency is threatened, with a significantly reduced workforce over the past decade.
Working conditions in all CNEN activities are a warning sign that can no longer be ignored. For instance, the agency currently has about 150 employees to handle licensing and inspection activities, covering about 4,000 nuclear and radiative facilities in the country. Of these, 50% are eligible for retirement, working at the limit of their capacities. This overload of work, responsibilities, and duties is unsustainable in the long term, jeopardizing the continuity of essential services.
The production of radiopharmaceuticals, essential for performing more than two million annual exams for detecting neoplasms and diagnosing other diseases in the public (SUS) and private network, is another critical area. CNEN, through the Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research (Ipen), operates the only public radiopharmacy in Brazil, a vital service that also lacks personnel and resources. Imagine interrupting thousands of nuclear medicine procedures?
The area of research, development, and human resources training in the nuclear sector also faces challenges. The loss of competence and the growing external dependence on scientific and technological knowledge are concerning. The nuclear sector, governed by standards and guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), urgently needs reinforcements to maintain its relevance and autonomy. So far, no public competition for CNEN has been announced, essential to reverse this situation, in addition to ensuring an adequate budget allocation.
Investments in priority projects, such as the Brazilian multipurpose reactor (RMB), the Nuclear and Environmental Technology Center (Centena), and the creation of the ANSN, are indispensable. Linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, ANSN’s mission is to improve the implementation of nuclear safety requirements in the country, but it still awaits the appointment of the board of directors and approval by the Senate. And despite not being operational, it already faces the same reality as Brazilian public institutions: a scarcity of budgetary and human resources to effectively fulfill its regulatory functions.
The future of nuclear safety in Brazil depends on swift and decisive actions to strengthen institutional capacities and ensure the continuity of essential services to society. The efficiency in dealing with current occurrences is commendable, but without the necessary resources and personnel, this competence may be at risk.
These actions not only ensure national sovereignty but also consolidate Brazil’s role as an important player in international discussions on nuclear geopolitics.
The original article in Portuguese written by Francisco Rondinelli Júnior, President of CNEN originally published in Folha de São Paulo.