Enrichment race: Russia increases uranium processing for Brazil by 25%

Russia and Brazil In June 2026, an agreement was signed to increase uranium processing for the South American republic by 25%, Izvestia found out. This is a strategic step: Russian fuel fully ensures the operation of Angra, the only nuclear power plant in the republic. Moscow is strengthening ties with Brazil in the face of open pressure from the United States, seeking to oust Russia from the Latin American market. Washington is trying to disrupt uranium enrichment contracts by promoting the interests of Westinghouse. Earlier, he even imposed duties against the republic.

Rosatom's projects in Brazil

Brazil is Russia's key economic partner in Latin America and one of the five historical founders of the BRICS. It accounts for over 50% of Russian trade with the region, and the bilateral trade turnover amounted to $10.9 billion by the end of 2025. In particular, the states are developing technological partnerships in the nuclear field. In December 2022, the parties signed a five-year contract for 100% enriched uranium supply to Brazil's only Angra nuclear power plant.

A new stage of cooperation was the open tender won by Rosatom in 2025 for the conversion and enrichment of uranium produced at the Kaitite deposit in the state of Bahia.

— It is important to note that in June 2026, the parties signed an additional agreement, increasing the volume of this contract by 25%. This shows that cooperation is not just continuing, but is also gradually expanding," Rosatom told Izvestia.

According to the plans of the Brazilian government, by 2035, the country's generation capacity should increase from 255 to 367 GW. The authorities predict that the final energy consumption in the country will grow by an average of 1.8% annually until 2035.

Brazil has developed hydropower due to a large number of rivers. It provides more than 50% of the country's energy. The use of wind and solar energy is also growing rapidly. In addition, Brazil is a world leader in the use of sugar cane for energy purposes.: it is burned at specialized thermal power plants. But the wind and the sun are unstable sources, and against the background of droughts, hydrogenation is experiencing problems. The NPP guarantees round-the-clock production.

The Russian side has already proposed a wide range of solutions: from large VVER-1200 power units to low-power stations (ASMM) in land and floating versions. According to Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Foundation, Russian proposals are attractive because they have been tested in many countries around the world. Moreover, Rosatom is also a leading player in the Brazilian market in the field of nuclear medicine. The state corporation provides about 50% of the country's needs for isotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Fuel issue: Brazil will keep diesel purchases from the Russian Federation

Why is US pressure unable to change the republic's position

What the US wants from Brazil

The United States is not satisfied with the close Russian-Brazilian cooperation. Donald Trump has a difficult relationship with President Lula da Silva, who holds leftist views. In July 2025, the American president imposed 40 percent duties on Brazilian goods, justifying this as a threat to national security and pressure from the Brazilian authorities on the opposition and US IT platforms. It is noteworthy that the American pressure then coincided with the republic's refusal to support anti-Russian sanctions. Despite the fact that the Supreme Court of the United States declared these measures illegal in February 2026, Washington introduced new tariffs in July this year, raising the cumulative barrier to 37.5%.

The Brazilian government has filed a lawsuit against the Americans at the WTO. However, the US duties do not promise catastrophic risks, according to Egor Lidovskaya, Director General of the Hugo Chavez Latin American Cultural Center. In his opinion, Washington is trying to influence the outcome of the October presidential election in Brazil in this way.

The main rival of the current president Lula da Silva is Flavio Bolsonaro from the Liberal Party. He is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, with whom Donald Trump has developed a close relationship. The former Brazilian leader himself, after the leftist government came to power, was convicted of an attempted coup, spent part of his term in prison and is now under house arrest.

The younger Bolsonaro's rise to power could trigger an Argentine scenario in Brazil, according to which Javier Miley turned Buenos Aires away from Moscow and Beijing towards Washington. Outright Russophobia is unlikely to be expected from Flavio Bolsonaro, but Russia risks losing major economic projects in this country.

The American Westinghouse, which built the first power unit of the Angra NPP, with the support of the US authorities is trying to impose its uranium conversion and enrichment services on Brazil in order to disrupt its contracts with Russia. However, expert Igor Yushkov is convinced that it will be difficult for Washington to compete with Russia even with Brazil's pro-American course, because the United States itself still imports Russian enriched uranium.

It is more profitable for Brazil to work with Russia, since Russia is now the world leader in uranium enrichment and offers lower prices without political conditions. Moreover, by entrusting Moscow with conversion and enrichment, Brasilia protects itself from excessive pressure from the United States — the republic already depends on Westinghouse to service the first Angra power unit.