China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corp (SNPTC) has set up its first South American office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Two consortia will now compete for contracts worth BRL3 billion ($1.5 billion) to assemble the nuclear and conventional island of Brazil's Angra 3 after owner Electronuclear re-opened bidding.

Nuclear technology firm Invap will construct two research reactors, one in Brazil and one in Argentina, under a contract signed with the two countries.

Eletronuclear may face a 10% tax on revenue from its nuclear power operations as Brazil prepares to expand arrangements that target profits from oil and gas.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has completed the installation of a new reactor vessel head at Brazil's Angra 1. The contract was the first large-scale overseas reactor component retrofit for the Japanese company.