Brazil’s Rousseff inaugurates nuclear submarine shipyard
Brazils 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 Brazils 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 countrys 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 nations sovereignty.
Brazil has about 8,500km of coastline.
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