Brazil has announced it has shelved plans to build new nuclear power stations in the coming years, citing last year's disaster at Fukushima disaster in Japan as a factor behind the decision.The previous government - led by former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - had planned to construct between four and eight new nuclear plants through 2030. However, Marcio Zimmermann, the energy ministry's executive secretary, was quoted as telling a forum Tuesday that there was no need for new nuclear facilities for the next 10 years."The last plan, which runs through 2020, does not envisage any (new) nuclear power station because there is no need for it. Demand is met with hydro-electrical power and complementary energy sources such as wind, thermal and natural gas," Zimmermann said on Wednesday.
Brazil operates one nuclear power station, located in Angra dos Reis near Rio de Janeiro, that houses two pressurized water reactors. Currently, a Angra 3 is under construction that expects to be completed in 2015.