TCU Orders 240-Day Timetable for Final Decision on Angra 3

Overview

• The TCU ruled on Wednesday that the Ministry of Mines and Energy has 120 days to compile and deliver all technical studies and documents, after which the National Council for Energy Policy will have 120 days to decide the plant’s fate.
• The court said years of indecision have cost state firm Eletronuclear roughly R$2.5 billion between 2024 and mid-2026 and left the company with a 2025 net loss near R$142 million and adjusted net debt above R$7 billion.
• A BNDES update estimates about R$23.9 billion would be needed to complete Angra 3 on top of roughly R$12 billion already spent, with the site about 60–66% built and pause costs near R$1 billion per year.
• Eletronuclear secured a temporary suspension of BNDES debt payments through the end of 2027, but the TCU warned this only postpones liabilities and noted INB has posted large losses because Eletronuclear delayed payments, threatening fuel supply for Angra 1 and 2.
• The court’s timetable raises the prospect of a clear fiscal choice for the government, with possible outcomes including costly completion, expensive programmed abandonment, or state recapitalization to avoid insolvency and protect Brazil’s nuclear chain.