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Caribbean-Latin America
Brazil's big oil find 'justifies nuclear sub'
2007-11-18
THE discovery this month of a vast offshore oil reserve justifies Brazil's plan to build a nuclear submarine because it would be used to protect the find, says the country's defence minister. Brazil has been talking about building a nuclear submarine for decades, but the project got a boost in July when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced £260 million in funding for uranium enrichment and the submarine programme.

And Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said: "When you have a large natural source of wealth discovered in the Atlantic, it's obvious you need the means to protect it." He said Brazil must take steps to guard the Tupi field and its 58 billion barrels of oil reserves from other nations andfrom "actions from the area of terror".
A few oil-fired frigates would do the job just as well and would a LOT cheaper. This is about chest-thumping and being one-up on the Argentinians and Chileans.
Posted by:Seafarious

#6  Jeeze Louise! They have not even developed this oil field and they have already figured out a way to blow their oil wad. They are very much like Iran in this regard.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2007-11-18 15:06  

#5  Instead of making a nuke sub to defend their oil, they should use a different design and make a nuke sub to help them drill for oil.

This would not only speed production considerably, but be cutting edge technology, which they could lease for big money to the oil companies. In turn it wouldn't cost a fortune, it would make a fortune.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-11-18 13:14  

#4  Wait, is this oil field in international waters ? Inquiring drillers want to know.
Posted by: wxjames   2007-11-18 12:39  

#3  defense minister is just trying to get a few more dollars

He'll probably get the money for a 20 year program with the funding back loaded.
Posted by: mhw   2007-11-18 11:34  

#2  THE discovery this month of a vast offshore oil reserve...

But we were told that all the oil has been found and we're all scrambling for limited resources..But..But...But. /sarcasm off
Posted by: Procopius2k   2007-11-18 11:20  

#1  Doesn't this also justify getting a pony?
Posted by: Dar   2007-11-18 09:45  

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