Brazil’s Rousseff inaugurates nuclear submarine shipyard

Brazil’s Rousseff inaugurates nuclear submarine shipyard
1:48 AM 14 December 2014
AFP
Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has inaugurated a naval shipyard that will oversee construction of a nuclear-powered submarine and four others to patrol Brazil’s long coastline and deepwater oil reserves.

The project in southeastern Rio state, with the first vessel set for 2017 delivery, emerged from a $10bn partnership with France dating from a 2008 agreement signed by then leaders Luiz Lula da Silva and Nicolas Sarkozy.

“I am sure that every cent invested in the programme will prove worthwhile,” said Rousseff.

She noted that Brazil was progressing toward becoming part of a “select group” of countries along with Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, whose navies have nuclear-propelled submarines at their disposal.

“We have a very precious heritage to protect, of which the sea is a part, with essential resources for our country’s development,” added Rousseff, who was accompanied to the launch by Defence Minister Celso Amorim.

She stressed that the navy has a constitutional duty to protect the nation’s sovereignty.

Brazil has about 8,500km of coastline.

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